Catherine Mertens was born on May 12, 1985, in Brussels, Belgium. She grew up in a family of musicians, with her mother being a pianist and her father a cellist. From a young age, Mertens showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Mertens received her early musical education at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where she studied under the guidance of renowned pianist and pedagogue Daniel Blumenthal. She later went on to study at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where she was mentored by the likes of Jacques Rouvier and Jean-François Heisser. Mertens made her debut as a soloist at the age of 16, performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra. This performance marked the beginning of a successful career as a concert pianist. Over the years, Mertens has performed with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. She has also collaborated with many renowned conductors, such as Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, and Simon Rattle. One of the highlights of Mertens' career was her performance at the 2010 Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm, Sweden. She was invited to perform alongside the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy. Mertens' performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 was met with critical acclaim and cemented her reputation as one of the world's leading pianists. Mertens has also been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. In 2007, she won the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, which is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world. She has also been awarded the Prix de la Fondation de France and the Prix de la Fondation Cziffra, among others. In addition to her career as a concert pianist, Mertens is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She has taught at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, and has given masterclasses around the world. Mertens' repertoire is vast and varied, ranging from the works of Bach and Mozart to contemporary composers such as John Adams and Philip Glass. She is particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Beethoven and Chopin, and has recorded several albums of their music. Despite her success, Mertens remains humble and dedicated to her craft. She continues to perform regularly around the world, and is committed to sharing her love of music with audiences and students alike.

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