Wouter Raubenheimer

My story begins in Pretoria, South Africa, where the warm sun and vibrant rhythms of my childhood sparked a lifelong love affair with the viola. At six, I joined the Pretoria String Orchestra, my fingers coaxing rich, soulful tones from the instrument that would become my voice. Those early days at the University of Pretoria, from 1996 to 1999, were a crucible—studying viola with prof. Alan Solomon and performing with the university’s chamber ensemble while dreaming of stages far beyond South Africa’s borders.

In 1999, that dream carried me to Blonay, Switzerland, to the International Menuhin Music Academy. Under the guidance of mentors like Alberto Lysy, I honed my craft, immersing myself in the delicate art of chamber music. As a violist with Camerata Lysy, I performed across Europe’s grandest halls and even ventured to Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colón. After long rehearsal days, I’d swim in Lake Geneva, its cool waters igniting a passion for open-water adventures that would follow me for years. The Menuhin Academy’s scholarship, awarded for my potential, was a nod to the journey ahead.

By 2001, I landed in Glasgow at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), chasing a Master of Music. Scotland’s rugged beauty and lively music scene felt like home. Studying under masterful teachers and performing in masterclasses with violists like Nobuko Imai, I refined my technique, graduating with distinction in 2003. But Glasgow offered more than academia—I joined the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra, playing in BBC Proms and the Edinburgh International Festival, my viola anchoring harmonies under conductors like Donald Runnicles. I also lent my voice to the Scottish Ensemble, blending music with art in innovative performances across the UK. Between gigs, I swam in Loch Lomond’s chilly depths and bodysurfed on the wild west coast, embracing Scotland’s untamed spirit. In 2003, a crowning moment came when I won the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland (NYOS) competition in Aberdeen, my solo viola performance earning a spotlight with NYOS.

In 2004, Norway called. I joined Musikk i Troms in Harstad for a while after which I moved south to Stavanger joining the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, where I’ve been a violist ever since, performing everything from Grieg’s lyrical melodies to bold new works in Norway and beyond. Stavanger’s fjords and coastline became my playground—I swam in the icy Lysefjord, my breath catching in the cold, and bodysurfed along the North Sea’s waves, earning nods from locals for my skill. Stavanger was filled with opportunities for new chamber music groups and together with Ingerine Dahl and Imari Hopkins we formed the Skasei String trio touring to China and Italy amongst others. Collaborations with artists like Leif Ove Andsnes brought moments of magic, reminding me why I chose this path.

Since 2007, I’ve also been part of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, a dream realized. Performing in venues like the Concertgebouw and Salzburg Festival, I’ve shared stages with the world’s finest musicians, my viola singing in Mahler and Mozart. Recordings for major labels and outreach programs mentoring young players have deepened my connection to this craft. After performances, I often celebrate by diving into a fjord, the cold water a reminder of music’s raw, elemental power.

Beyond the stage, I’m a wanderer at heart. From Pretoria’s warm shores to Scotland’s rugged coasts and Norway’s pristine fjords, bodysurfing has been my dance with the sea, a way to feel alive between notes. Swimming in Norway’s icy waters. I collect folk melodies wherever I go, adapting them for viola to tell stories of the places I’ve called home. Inspired by Norway’s beauty, I volunteer with coastal clean-ups, giving back to the landscapes that fuel my spirit.

This is my story—a violist shaped by Pretoria’s warmth, Blonay’s elegance, Glasgow’s grit, and Stavanger’s wild beauty. Through music and waves, I’ve found my rhythm, and I’m still writing the next verse.