André Rieu

Born on October 1, 1949, in Maastricht, Netherlands, André Rieu hails from a musical family and began his violin studies at the age of five. His father was a conductor, and Rieu developed an early fascination with orchestras. He pursued his violin education at the Conservatoire Royal in Liège and the Conservatorium Maastricht from 1968 to 1973, studying under Jo Juda and Herman Krebbers. He furthered his studies at the Music Academy in Brussels from 1974 to 1977 with André Gertler, earning a Premier Prix.

During his university years, Rieu's performance of Franz Lehár's "Gold And Silver Waltz" garnered significant audience enthusiasm, inspiring him to focus on the waltz genre. He founded the Maastricht Salon Orchestra and performed as a violinist with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra. In 1987, Rieu established the Johann Strauss Orchestra and his own production company. His theatrical stage performances and charismatic persona have been credited by some with contributing to a resurgence in the popularity of waltz music. André Rieu plays a 1667 Stradivarius violin.