Born in 1974, Rudi De Groote made his concerto debut at the age of 17 with the Cape Town Philharmonic whilst studying under Magdalena Roux at the University of Stellenbosch, and soon after won scholarships to study in London at the Royal College of Music and in Glasgow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. During this time he won all the performance and chamber music prizes and toured South Africa as soloist, performing Beethoven’s Triple’ concerto. During his time as a student, he studied under Philip De Groote and Robert Irvine, and took part in classes with Moray Welsh, Tim Hugh, Janos Starker, Steven Isserlis, David Geringas, Torleif Thedeen and Franz Helmerson.
On graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Rudi joined the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and won the position of principal cello shortly after, where he stayed until 2006. During this time, he appeared as soloist with the orchestra under Jerzy Maksymiuk and Ilan Volkov, performing concertos by Saint Saens and Kurtag with nationwide broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Scotland. He joined the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 2006 and again performed regularly as soloist with the orchestra under their General Music Director, Francesco Corti. He has performed as soloist regularly within the UK, Belgium, South Africa and Germany.
In late 2012 Rudi successfully won the post of solo cello with the Irish Chamber Orchestra under the directorship of Gabor Takacz Nagy and Jorg Widmann. Since 2015, Rudi has held the post of Principal cello with the Orchestra of English National Opera, and is currently covering a sabbatical as solo cello with the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway. As a guest principal, he performs regularly with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and he has been invited by the London Symphony Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Orchestra of Opera North, the Stavanger Orchestra, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and is a regular member of the John Wilson Orchestra.
Rudi has performed regularly as cellist for the Chilingirian Quartet and has performed and been on the teaching and coaching staff at the Lake District Summer Festival, West Dean Chamber Music Festival, Mendelssohn on Mull Chamber Music Festival, and the Cantilena Chamber Music Festival on Islay. He has also performed in chamber concerts with Isabelle van Keulen, Jorg Widmann, the Belcea String Quartet, Marcia Crayford (Nash Ensemble), Garfield Jackson (Endellion Quartet) and Robert Cohen.
He has performed as soloist and chamber musician at the Edinburgh and Cheltenham International Festivals, and has made regular broadcasts for BBC Radio 3.
Rudi plays on a cello by Ferdinand Gagliano dated 1777.