Mechthild Schrader-Rau was born on 1st May, 1972 in Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. She first started playing the recorder at the age of six taking private tuition in Gießen. She completed her studies at the Justus Liebig University, Gießen in 1995 and is a primary school teacher in Lower Saxony. Her favourite vegetable is paprika and her favourite colour is blue Photo: Stephan Schrader © August 2001