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My goal in this life is to promote classical music in easy-to-grasp forms, supported by modern technology. I also compose modern music for my favourite instruments: piano & cello. Below you'll find some more information about my instrumental background. My first memory of wanting to play an instrument was when I was about four; we had a storybook with fantastic illustrations, and I really wanted to be like the gypsy girl with the gold hoop earrings, and long, black, curly hair playing the violin by the campfire! Not long after that, I started singing in various children's choir and that's where it all started. I suppose that my dream has come true and I am a kind of 21st century gypsy. ;-)
Trained as a classical pianist, I've performed in many countries of Europe and been an artist in various concert series. Next to playing in concerts, I really enjoy giving lecture-recitals. Besides that, I've participated in many masterclasses, have played at festivals in The Netherlands and abroad (such as the "Euregio Klavier", "Peter de Grote", the "Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht" and the "International Musiccourse") and won several prizes at competitions such as the "Prinses Christina Concours", the "Petrof Concours" and the "European Music Festival for Young People". After private lessons with Berrel Oude Elferink and Inge Lulofs, I have studied piano and cello (minor) at the Conservatory in Tilburg and at the Schumann Akademie in Utrecht.
Besides playing solo, I really love to play chambermusic. My first experience was the "pianistsparade" in Le Carnaval des Animaux with the Valerius Ensemble. With pianotrio "Intermezzo", I played in lots of concerts (among other with the Escher Trio and with cello-octet Conjucto Iberico) and participated in a masterclass and concert with the Storioni Trio Amsterdam. I was also lucky enough to play with some wonderful people in local orchestras and chamber groups, many of whom are still friends (some also now professional musicians). We all encouraged one another, had a lots fun and basically just loved playing music!
As an orchestral soloist I've played the Haydn C-major, the 2nd Sjostakovich, the Vanhal C-major and the Mozart A-major with various orchestra's. My discography includes (among others) a Mozart Sonate (Peter de Grote Jong Talent) and a Nocturne by Chopin ("Wat bezielt ons?"). Click here to listen to it. Since this is my most beloved piece, I'll play it too on the Pianomania-project and -cd of Radio 4.
Modern cello was my minor in the conservatory of Tilburg and when I moved to Utrecht I switched to baroquecello with Elske Tinbergen. But still kept playing modern cello in Zoroaster - a string ensemble fot modern music. Click to hear us play fragments of Arvo Pärts Fratres for violin, string orchestra and percussion (1977/1992) or Leos Janáceks Suite for string orchestra (1877). I played cello in one of Mozart's quartets on the cd "Position 2" (DeHaske) and was an orchestra member in Mozarts Requiem(Brabants Conservatorium). David Weertman and I played an Uccelini Sonata for the promocd of the musicschool in Valkenswaard and my friend Karin van Kooten and I took care of the string parts on the latest album of the Dutch rock band Supernatural. Besides that, I also played violin&cello on the soundtrack of Marc Cuppens film "Life".
As I mentioned before, I think composing new music for classical instruments can be a way to reach a new audience for classical music. If you'd like to see a list of my published music and my discography as a composer, just click here.
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