About us
Synchestra is a Belgian company, and was founded in 2021, after several years of preparatory work. Synchestra is not an ordinary commercial company. Synchestra arose from a passion for music and the wish to give every musician the feeling to play together with a real orchestra.
The community
Because playing together with an orchestra is magical. We think that this musical experience should not be the exclusive privilege of the most talented musicians.
Playing together with an orchestra should be something that every musician should be able to experience. That's why in the first place Synchestra wants to be a Community, a meeting place for musicians with a common passion. For musicians who work hard for months on end to be able to perform that breathtaking aria, that grandiose concerto, that incomparable choral work and to turn it into an unforgettable goose-bump moment.
What makes us happy
Musical happiness is what drives Synchestra, money is not our driving force. The value of Synchestra is the sum of the happy moments of its Community members. Business decisions will always be made with the optimal musical experience and the economic stability of the company in mind.
What we do with our profits
Synchestra has a clear mission: We want to make benefits, but only to make our company sustainable and long-lived. As we grow, those benefits are re-invested into the company (and not distributed to the shareholders), to improve the app, and to expand the portfolio. This means you’ll not only gain access to an ever-expanding repertoire but also enjoy an increasingly enriched experience.
The wealth of our company is not the amount on the bottom line of the yearly accounts, but the total amount of happiness of our musicians who enjoy playing beautiful music with our app.
Our history
How it started
In September 2003, Robrecht Paternoster, an engineer with a passion for music, embarked on an ambitious project: perform Camille Saint-Saëns' majestic Symphony for Orchestra and Organ. A contract was signed with the Brussels Youth and Music Orchestra to bring "Saint-Saëns for the Youth" to life but faced a significant setback: the intricate orchestral scores proved too challenging for the young musicians, leading to the concert’s cancellation. Robrecht’s dream performance was suddenly out of reach, but he was dedicated to reach his dream performance.
In early 2004, Robrecht crafted a "Music Minus Organ" version of a commercial recording of the symphony, adjusting the pitch to account for the natural variance of the organ caused by temperature changes. On April 12, 2004, the concert finally took place in the magnificent Brussels Cathedral, where he played the new Grenzing Organ alongside a digital orchestra.
First versions
Robrecht realized that the opportunity to perform great works with an orchestra shouldn’t be limited to just a few. He wanted to build something that anyone could enjoy, just like a world-class soloist does. And so, the idea for Synchestra was born, an app that allows musicians to play together with a digital orchestra, tailored specifically to their instrument, tempo, tuning, and even their position within the ensemble.
Over the years, technical advancements reshaped the music world, from powerful music notation programs to state-of-the-art virtual instruments. In November 2019, Robrecht successfully demonstrated the proof of concept of the future app to Daniel Blumenthal, Head of the Piano Department at the Brussels Conservatory (and laureate at the 1983 International Queen Elisabeth Music Competition), receiving warm encouragements.
From hobby to Start Up with public endorsement
The founding of Synchestra company came in October 2021, soon followed by the recruitment of our first app developer. In November, we joined the Start it @KBC incubator, alongside 65 other entrepreneurs, selected from over 220 candidates. The financial support we've received from the Flemish Government for our research and development efforts from 2022 to 2024 has been instrumental in our growth. This backing not only validates the potential of our project but also proves the strong confidence in Synchestra’s commercial and technological success.
Today, we are proud to have a dedicated team of 4 employees and over 30 global contributors, all working to create a transformative musical experience for classical musicians everywhere.
