Many musicians of note and influence came regularly to hear this orchestra and Ysaÿe in particular, among whom figured Joseph Joachim, Franz Liszt, Clara Schumann, and Anton Rubinstein, who asked that Ysaÿe be released from his contract to accompany him on tour.
Igranja na violino se je začel učiti s štirimi leti pri svojem očetu, kasneje pa so bili njegovi profesorji Joseph Massart, Henryk Wieniawski in Henri Vieuxtemps.