Babette Roosenschoon (MMus, LLB) is a cellist who enjoys a career as performer, teacher and lecturer. Currently holding a MMus in performance from Stellenbosch University, under the tuition and mentorship of Dalena Roux, her formative school years on the instrument were guided by Human Coetzee at the NWU Conservatory in Potchefstroom. Babette furthered her studies abroad at Universität Mozarteum (Salzburg, Austria) with the esteemed Heidi Litschauer, and embarked on further post-graduate studies at the University of North Texas (Denton, Texas) with the late Eugene Osadchy and Baroque cello with Allen Whear, which lead to many performances with representative ensembles of the College of Music.
At age 24, Babette won a tutti cello position with Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and continued to permanently play with the orchestra for 8 years, which included memorable performances with many renown soloists such as Joshua Bell, Andrea Bocelli, Mischa Maisky and Sarah Chang, among others.
In 2017, Babette joined the faculty at Stellenbosch University as part-time cello lecturer. Here, she approaches cello tuition and mentorship with a unique teaching philosophy, encompassing not only emphasis on developing musicianship, but also, technical capability, body awareness and career guidance. Her recently acquired law degree (LLB) allows her to integrate legal understanding of the music industry within her cello studio.
Being a keen chamber musician, Babette is cellist of the Juliet String Quartet while continuing to perform with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Camerata Tinta Barocca on an ad hoc basis.
Serving on the board of the newly founded South African Strings Foundation, she hopes to further her vision of creating a platform for strings collaboration and skills advancement in South Africa.