On August 9, flautist Ilonka Kolthof won third prize in the prestigious 'The 2014 NFA Piccolo Artist Competition' in Chicago, being the first Dutch musician to rank this high in this competition. With about five thousand members from over fifty countries, the National Flute Association (NFA) is the largest flute organisation in the world. One hundred participants from all over the world competed in the competition, which took place during the 2014 NFA Flute Convention, in the Grand Ballroom at the historic Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue.

Ilonka Kolthof graduated from the master’s degree programme at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2012.