Our sign up form is open, register now
It may be 1 April today, but this is no joke: the registration form for Kamermuziek Concours Gelre 2026 is now officially open! Register via the buttons on our homepage or by clicking here! The deadline for registration is 1 July 2026. We are already very excited to see which ensembles we will be welcoming this year.
Kamermuziek Concours Gelre will take place again in September 2026! The registration form will open on 1 April. We recently welcomed a new Artistic Director, Maaike Eijkman, and she would like to introduce herself to you.
The power of making music together
My first competition experience was at the age of thirteen during the Piano Driedaagse in Rotterdam. I had been looking forward to that moment for weeks, and then there I was, in the main hall of De Doelen. Whole families were there, sandwiches in their bags, and afterwards we celebrated with friends that we had been able to play on such a special stage. And when you hear that you’ve made it to the next round, that’s the icing on the cake, of course, but the cake itself was already there.
From neighbour’s piano to conservatory
I knew from an early age that I wanted to do something with music. As a child, I spent more time at my neighbour’s house, because they had a piano, than at home. My parents quickly decided that I needed my own instrument, and from that moment on, music became an integral part of my life. At the age of twelve, I was admitted to the young talent class at the conservatory in The Hague; the beginning of a lifelong passion.
The magic of chamber music
During my studies, I discovered how valuable it is to play together. Listening, tuning in, reinforcing each other; chamber music not only makes you a better musician, but also a richer person. And when you manage to tell a story on stage that touches the audience, it’s pure magic.
A competition full of innovation and connection
As Artistic Director of Kamermuziek Concours Gelre I consider it a great privilege to work with the organisation to give direction to this special event. With inspiring venues such as Musis Arnhem and De Vereeniging in Nijmegen, an expert jury, the new Kamerklanken section and masterclasses that offer young talents new stages, we are building a competition that sparkles with energy, connection and inspiration.
The cake is already here, but the cherries keep coming.
Yesterday was the final of Kamermuziek Concours Gelre 2024 and it was one to remember! Five ensembles played amazingly for coveted prizes. We congratulate the Martin String Quartet on winning 1st Prize and Festival Prize, Song Duo Verheij & van den Dool on winning 2nd Prize and Viola Sisters on winning 3rd Prize! The Podium Prize this year went to the Florestan Piano Quartet, which means they will be hosting their own lunch concert in De Vereeniging. The other prizes are equivalent to master classes and we will see the Martin String Quartet back at the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam by winning the Festival Prize. Congratulations to all! Go to our socials for the videos!
The programme booklet for the finals next Sunday 22 September at De Vereeniging in Nijmegen has been finalised! Download the programme for the final here. Download the programme for the final here.
And that was the semi-final of Kamermuziek Concours Gelre 2024! We thank all ensembles for their participation and the jury (consisting of Erika Waardenburg, Chris Duindam and Hans Eijsackers) for their expert feedback. Finally, we congratulate the following five ensembles on winning a place in next week’s finals: Florestan Piano Quartet, Viola Sisters, Liedduo Verheij & van den Dool, Echo Saxophone Quartet and Martin String Quartet. On Sunday 22 September, they can be heard again during the finals at De Vereeniging in Nijmegen.
This was Performance Day ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ Gelre! We congratulate Trio JEF on the Performance Day Prize, Thalia String Trio on the Incentive Prize and Caudex Trio on the Audience Prize. We also thank all the other ensembles for their participation and our jury members (Marijke Schrรถer, Mattias Spee and Dana Zemtsov) for their valuable feedback. On to tomorrow: the semi-final of Kamermuziek Concours Gelre 2024!
Dit weekend is het dan zover! Morgen (zaterdag) organiseren wij Performancedag ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ Gelre en zondag de halve finale van Kamermuziek Concours Gelre 2024 in Akoesticum te Ede! Koop online een ticket, kom langs en geniet van jonge, talentvolle muzikanten.
To all conservatoire teachers: the Performance Day is just after the summer break in September. Students probably gave their presentation with their ensemble of that trimester just before the summer. Inspire them especially, now that everything has settled down over the summer holidays, to shine once more on stage with that ensemble. To all students: sign up! You can do so until 1 June.
The First Prize in the 12 to 19 years category at Kamermuziek Concours Gelre 2022 was won by the Young Trombone Collective. Recently, they have received their second, won masterclass. Renรฉ Spierings, the group’s teacher, sent us some photos and videos. By the looks of it, among other things, they worked on a creative set-up!
