Sofie van der Schalie (1989) is a Dutch classical, versatile violist. Sofie works in various orchestras and chamber music groups.
Born in Groningen, Sofie was accepted to the Young Talent Class of the Conservatorium in Utrecht at the age of 11. In 2011, she received her Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance degree at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where she studied with Marjolein Dispa, Francien Schatborn and Sven Arne Tepl. In 2014, she received her Master of Music in Viola Performance degree and continued her studies with Lawrence Power at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste, and with Leo de Neve in Antwerp.
During her studies Sofie was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, being (sub-) principal of the viola group. Thereafter she was accepted to the academy of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Sofie’s broad interest in music led her to a dynamic musical life. She works as a freelance musician with the Royal Concertgebouworchestra, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orchestra, Radio Filharmonisch Orchestra a.o. As a chamber musician she plays in various chamber orchestras, like Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Concertgebouw Chamberorchestra and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, besides smaller chamber music groups.
As a soloist Sofie played with the Noord Nederlands Orkest and the Nederlands Jeugd Strijkorkest. She was a prizewinner of the Prinses Christina Concours and a laureate of the National Viola Competition.
Sofie has participated in masterclasses led by world renowned musicians such as Herman Krebbers, Nobuko Imai, Lawrence Power, Liviu Prunaru a.o. Sofie is very experienced in teaching viola and chamber music. She used to teach at the Muziek- en Dansschool Amstelveen, 2014-2019, where she built a viola group of 20 young violists. Sofie also teaches masterclasses or group rehearsals on a regular basis, with orchestras such as the Malta Youth Orchestra, the European Music Campus Orchestra and the Nederlands Jeugd Strijkorkest.