Our finalists have been announced

Yesterday was the semi-final of Kamermuziek Concours Gelre in Akoesticum, Ede. Eight incredibly talented ensembles presented their music pieces/programme there. After a short deliberation between jury members Frank van de Laar, Chris Duindam and Erika Waardenburg, we were told that the following five ensembles may present themselves during our final in September: Muze Kwartet, SeT Duo, Van Gunseren Keinänen, Duo Saraswati and Utrecht Piano Trio. Congratulations! We wish everyone a happy summer and look forward to the continuation of our competition.

Duo Saraswati is a young up-and-coming cello-piano duo consisting of brothers Jan and Kris van der Plas. With their passionate way of playing, they make the distinct connection between Indonesia and Europe. They were frequent guests on the television programme Podium Klassiek and in the Concertgebouw on Radio 4. In 2023, at the invitation of the Erasmus House in Jakarta, they will tour Indonesia. In Duo Saraswati’s challenging repertoire, they focus on connecting the musical worlds of Indonesia and Europe.

The Utrecht Piano Trio was founded by Lisa Angelia Tanto (fromIndonesia), Tiago Coelho (from Portugal)and Maria Soeiro (from Portugal) at the HKU Utrecht Conservatorium, Netherlands, in 2021. The trio is coached by Sebastian Koloski and received master classes from Gregor Sigl, Luc-Marie Aguera, Johannes Meissl, Xavier Gagnepain, Anna Zassimova, Andreas Frölich, Klára Würtz, Timora Rosler, Viola de Hoog, Annemarie Konijnburg, Kennedy Moretti, Andras Kemenes and Gusta Gerritsen. The Up Trio was semi-finalist in the Grachten Festival Concours 2022.

SeT Duo is a saxophone and percussion duo formed in 2021 at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague where both Zofia Kęsy (saxophone) and Te-Ping Teng (percussion) are currently studying. Both musicians are very interested in contemporary and new music, which is the main focus of the ensemble. The duo has worked with composers in the 2022/2023 season and they are eager to do more such projects in the coming years. SeT Duo played at many concerts and festivals, always surprising audiences with extraordinary sounds and energy. During recent years, they had the chance to work with many great musicians such as: Alena Walentin, Alban Wesly, Lars Niederstrasser, Niels Meliefste and Pepe Garcia.

Dutch viola player Duleen van Gunsteren was born in Noordwijk in 1995. As a boy, he studied violin at the School voor Jong Talent in The Hague with Koosje van Haeringen. He then continued his studies in viola at Conservatorium Rotterdam with Ron Ephrat. He is currently taking the Masters course with Marjolein Dispa-Knaven at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Finnish clarinettist Kerttu Keinänen (1997) studied with Harmen de Boer at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Her repertoire is broad, but her favourite composer par excellence is Johannes Brahms. She also has a great love for music from her homeland, by Jean Sibelius and Einojuhani Rautavaara, for example.

We are the CU5 Koperkwintet, five friends who together want to make chamber music for brass accessible to the public. We aim for high-quality performances and are ambitious both technically and musically. The quintet was formed in September 2022 after which we started working very intensively together to achieve high-quality performances initially within the conservatoire. Subsequently, we have the ambition to participate in competitions and concerts within the Benelux.

They began their musical studies at the Conservatório – Escola das Artes on their native island of Madeira, Daniel Bolba and Inês Díez met again in the Netherlands and began their duet in 2021. Since then, they have performed at the RCO House, Uitmarkt Festival and Grachten Festival, among others. In 2022, they commissioned the piece Red Roof-Green Wall for marimba and violin from Dutch composer and timpanist Nick Woud, which they recorded and presented in several live performances in the Netherlands and Belgium. Looking to expand the literature for this unconventional formation, Reencounters seeks collaborations with composers and dives into existing repertoire, with the ambition to reinvent the place of modern music in classical programmes. Inês Díez completed her Bachelor studies in violin at Codarts-Rotterdam with Natalia Morozova and her Masters and Postgraduate at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels with Philippe Graffin. Daniel Bolba completed his Bachelor and is currently pursuing his Masters at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under the guidance of Arnold Marinissen, Xi Zhang, Nick Woud, Mark Braafhart and Bence Major.

Time to introduce the participating ensembles for the semi-final of the Kamermuziek Concours Gelre! Starting with the Muze Kwartet and Novus Aer.

This is the Muze Kwartet! A passionate piano quartet founded in 2021. The members know each other from their studies at the Prince Claus Conservatorium in Groningen. A close, musical bond soon develops. In their opinion, the piano quartet is not programmed often enough, while so much wonderful repertoire has been written for it. Muze strives time and again to be allowed to share this fantastic genre, the piano quartet, with the public.

Novus Aer was founded in 2022 by three enthusiastic musicians and fellow students at Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. Claudia Veloso (flute), Fransico Costa (bassoon) and Marit van der Made focus on contemporary music, polyphony and classical works with groove. The different nationalities within the ensemble brings a mix of rhythms, different styles and a varied repertoire. Because of these unique sounds, Novus Aer is always looking for new colours to push the boundaries of the traditional chamber music repertoire.

Unfortunately, due to too few applications, we have had to decide to cancel the Kamermuziek Concours Jong Gelre. However, the Kamermuziek Concours Gelre (up to 27 years of age) will take place! The participating ensembles playing in the semi-final will follow soon.

Erika Waardenburg: “Try it anyway!”
Erika Waardenburg, a versatile musician, has an active career both as a soloist and chamber music player and spends a regular part of her schedule teaching. She is the founder and artistic director of the Academy of Musical Talent. Next competition, Erika will again be present as one of our judges.

Why a resounding “yes” to judging with us?
“I am a great advocate of chamber music. If you are going to study music, chamber music is an incredibly important part. Why? Because you open your ears and eyes to others and that’s a form of making music which is not reflected in an orchestra. In an orchestra, you are focused on the conductor, your own part and maybe your immediate surroundings. If you play solo, then you are only dealing with yourself. But chamber music, and especially if you play with more than three musicians, is quite an art in its own right. So young people, around 10/12 years old, who are already doing this: hats off. The fact that the competition gives this opportunity is fantastic, which is why I’m happy to come and judge again. I look back fondly on the last time judging.”

What is the art of chamber music?
“Making sure the first note is right, and the last one too, but above all: breathing. To breathe is to find each other. It starts with the first breath together before the first note. And then you move on, trying to find and feel each other again and again. Making music together is breathing together.”

Why should musicians sign up?
“You learn so much from it. You lift yourself to a higher level. So I always say: join, don’t wait until next year, go for it now. Try it! It is a busy period for many now because of (final) exams, so I can imagine someone thinking: I don’t have time. But I then say again: try it anyway! Get out there and challenge yourself.”

Do you have any tips for ensembles already signed up?
“Study. A lot of studying. Don’t let a day go by so that you are really good at your instrument and familiar with the music you are going to play.”

To give everyone (but especially those in doubt) a slightly longer chance, we have extended our registration deadlines to 23 June. Please register before then, as this is when the official closing will take place anyway! Click here for the application form for Kamermuziek Concours Gelre and here for Kamermuziek Concours Jong Gelre.

At Kamermuziek Concours Gelre, prizes include master classes and concerts. Curious about what last year’s winners did? Or even better: are going to do?

First prize winner
The Dokwerk Saxophone Quartet, first prize winner at KCG 2022 was invited shortly after the finals in September 2022 by Podium Klassiek, the successor of Podium Witteman. And in March this year, they were allowed to perform at the famous Schiermonnikoog Festival. Soon, on May 31, they will present themselves in the main hall of Concertgebouw De Vereeniging as part of the lunch concert series.

Second prize winners
The duo Nina Broeva, violin and Damiën Heemskerk, piano, second prize winners at KCG 2022, will receive a master class on Wednesday, September 20, from none other than violinist Liza Ferschtman. The utmost will be taken out. In the words of Liza, “I would like to go to the depths.” The duo Femke Chu, violin and Lidwien Kuijpers, cello, second prize winners at KC Jong Gelre 2022 will also get this unique experience, as will the violin duo Menno Verloop and Anna Martirosian.

Third prize winners
The Brioso Trio with Martine Velthuis, violin, Mieke Glasbergen, piano and cellist Matthias Schwaiger Pearson, chose a master class from cellist Quirine Viersen. Each award-winning ensemble may indicate what they need now, the moment of their development.

YES! The registration forms for Kamermuziek Concours Gelre and Kamermuziek Concours Jong Gelre are open! We are very much looking forward to your entries. If you have any questions or comments regarding registration, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@kamermuziekconcoursgelre.nl or jong@kamermuziekconcoursgelre.nl.