Bio
After receiving his MSc degree in engineering in theoretical physics in 2000 from Gent University, Belgium, Matthias Troffaes joined the SYSTeMS research group at the same university as a doctoral researcher, pursuing research in imprecise probability theory under the guidance of Gert de Cooman, earning the degree of PhD in April 2005. In July 2005, he went to Carnegie Mellon University as a Francqui Foundation Fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation, working as a post-doctoral researcher with Teddy Seidenfeld. In September 2006, he became lecturer at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Durham University. Currently, he is professor at that same department.
Besides these scientific activities, he studied harpsichord with Carine Verhenneman and organ with Chris Dubois at the Conservatory of Bruges until 1994. From 1996 until 2002 he continued his harpsichord studies as a part-time student with Carine Verhenneman at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent, where he also took classes in composition with Frank Nuyts and Godfried-Willem Raes. He has been pursuing his musical desires as a free-lance harpsichord and organ player, concentrating on both Baroque and contemporary music, improvisation, experimental methods, and the combination of Baroque instruments with live electronics. In this electronic and experimental spirit, he co-founded the S K O R Z A ensemble in 2002, together with Kristof Lauwers and Kerstin Olfe. Between 2006 and 2010, he sang as tenor in the Durham Choral Society.