Henri Christofer Aavik, alumnus from the National Master in Orchestral Conducting, has won the German Conducting Award. From a remarkable amount of 234 applications, twelve finalists were selected who, from October 14-20, 2025, performed with the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, the WDR Symphony Orchestra, and singers from the Cologne Opera House. During the final concert, Henri received both the first prize and the Kurt Masur Audience Award. Thanks to these awards, he will be performing with orchestras such as the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Dresden Philharmonic, the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, and the Munich Symphony Orchestra in the coming years.

Henri graduated from the National Master of Orchestral Conducting (NMO) in 2024 with a special final concert in which he conducted the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra in works by Kodály and Schumann. Immediately after graduating, he was appointed principal conductor of the Pärnu City Orchestra in his home country Estonia. Henri studied with Kenneth Montgomery (1943-2023), Ed Spanjaard, and Jac van Steen.

The National Master in Orchestral Conducting is a prestigious two-year master's programme offered jointly by the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. Several Dutch symphony orchestras participate in the programme, including the Residentie Orkest, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, and the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. More about NMO