Danré Strydom has established herself as one of South Africa’s premier solo, chamber and orchestral musicians. After completing a Bachelor degree at the University of the Free State, she began her postgraduate studies at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Further studies in Belgium resulted in separate Master’s Degrees in Clarinet, Early Clarinet and Bass Clarinet Performance from the Royal Conservatory (Ghent University). She completed a PhD at the University of the Free State and is currently associate professor at this institution.

Except for winning various national competitions as a young musician, she has won numerous awards, including the R. Muller Award for highest achievements in music and academics, the FAK, ATKV Cultural Diversity and, Old Presidency Awards. Most recently she received the UFS Exceptional Young Achiever’s and Humanities Excellence awards. Strydom is currently the Chair for Africa of the International Clarinet Association.

Besides currently serving as principal clarinetist for the Free State Symphony Orchestra, she was an ad hoc member of the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra. Her clarinet and saxophone students have won numerous awards and scholarships, both nationally and internationally and she is a regular adjudicator for national and international competitions.