The Dutch clarinettist is an Amsterdam based specialist in the performance of new music, composed and improvised, with a preference for playing on the low clarinets. Schouten can be heard extensively as a soloist and with her own groups. She works in duo with cellist Katharina Gross (contemporary composed music), in trio with cellist Vincent Courtois and pianist Guus Janssen (improvised music) and with many other musicians and artists. Since 15 years she is guestmusician of the German Ensemble Musikfabrik.

She has had around 100 pieces written for her, which she has premiered in various formations. Fie is together with Tobias Klein artistic director of the bass clarinet festival titled ‘Basklarinet Festijn’ which had it’s first edition in 2014. In 2019 she received 1st Nieuw Geneco (composers association) Fair Practice Compositioncommission Award for her impact on the musicscene in the Netherlands, an inspiration for many and with attention for Fair Practice. 

Coach/educator

Fie is since 2013 Professor of Bass Clarinet and contemporary music at Classical and Jazz Department of the Prince Claus Conservatoire Groningen. She teaches individually with the focus on interpretation in combination with explaining the needed techniques and ensemble with the focus on how to develop playing in a group.

She gave masterclasses at different festivals with the focus on low clarinets and was guestprofessor at Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien, Austria, Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance, Israël, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Tallinn, Estonia, Chicago academy of the Arts, USA, Codarts Rotterdam, NL.

CD’s

Schouten produced 12 CD‘s, released at the Dutch labels Attacca, Trytone, Karnatic Lab Records, the Austrian label Kairos and the American label Relative Pitch Records. The CD’s contain contemporary composed music, mostly dedicated to Fie Schouten and her colleague performers, and improvised music. 

Fie Schouten makes the bass clarinet ring with a gorgeous sound….

TheWholeNote, Max Christie febr ’21 (CD Nature 2020)

“Schouten’s interpretations are spot-on in a wide range of playing techniques … the most versatile clarinet player in the Netherlands. “ 

NRC Joep Christenhusz dec ’19 (CD Chambery 2018)

“This album is truly outstanding and represents bass clarinet playing and chamber music at the highest level.”

Magazine The Clarinet, Prewitt dec ’19 (CD Chambery 2018)

Fie´s website

Fie´s albums on Bandcamp