Prize-winning students 2012

Elsa Benoit has won three prizes at the international singing competition Symphonies d'Automne in Mâcon (F), which took place on November 25. She won the audience prize, the prize for best interpretation of the commissioned song and the young talent prize. Elsa studies at the Dutch National Opera Academy.

Über-Ich have won the 'Grote Prijs van Nederland' - a major prize for pop musicians in the Netherlands - in de category 'bands'. Über-Ich drummer Jelle Huiberts won the SAE prize for Best Musician. All Über-Ich members study at the CvA's Pop Department.

Composers Abel Paúl and Emre Kaleli have been nominated for the prestigious Gaudeamus Prize 2013. Abel Paúl (1984, Spain) has been nominated for his work The end of lines for two flutes, oboe, two clarinets, alto saxophone, percussion, harp, piano, celesta, harpsichord and cello, and Emre Kaleli (1987, Turkey) for his work Il voto dell'innocenza for two clarinets (or two soprano saxophones), sine waves, midi keyboard, piano, percussion, electric guitar,  double bass (or electric bass with e-bow). Both composers have graduated from the master programme in composition at the CvA, Abel in 2009 and Emre in 2012.

Jazz trombone student Odei Al-Magut has won the annual grant of € 2500,-, donated by the Stichting Jazztalent.

Jazz students Joëll Wilson, Stefan Franssen and the band Oosterdok 4 have won first prizes at the Prinses Christina Jazz Competition, the national competition for young jazz musicians.
Joëll Wilson (14), won first prize in Category 1 (age 12-15). Joëll studies at the Junior Jazz College the CvA's national study programme for young talents. The band Oosterdok 4, formed by Stefan Bos (16), piano; Wouter Kühne (16), drums; Gideon Tazelaar (15), saxophone, and Tijs Klaassen (19), bass guitar, won first prize in Category 2 (age 16-21). Stefan and Wouter both study at Junior Jazz College, Gideon and Tijs in the CvA's bachelor's degree programme. The Stefan Franssen Group, led by Stefan Franssen won first prize in Category 3 (up to age 21 and studying at a conservatory). Stefan studies drums in the bachelor's degree programme.

Violinist Noa Wildschut (11) has won the Concertgebouw Young Talent Award. Noa studies at the Sweelinck Academy, the CvA's study programme for for exceptionally gifted young musicians. The Concertgebouw Young Talent Award consists of a study grant of € 5000,-.

Ben Weishaupt (15) has won first prize at the Euregio Competition for Vocalists in Heek (Germany), for singers from the Netherlands, Belgium and the area of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The five members of the international jury were unanimous in their choice of Ben, who was the youngest singer to participate. Ben studies singing with Pierre Mak and piano at the Sweelinck Academy with Marcel Baudet.

The Dudok Quartet have won second prize at the 6th Internationaler Joseph Joachim Kammermusikwettbewerb in Weimar. From 27 ensembles, hailing from all over the world, six were selected to play in the final. The Dudok Quartet are Judith van Driel, violin; Marleen Wester, violin; Mark Mulder, viola, and David Faber, cello. Judith, Marleen and David have graduated from the CvA.

Violinist Lisette Carlebur (16) and pianist Xenia Evers (17) have won the Rijnlands Muziekconcours, a competition for young talents up to the age of 18. Lisette and Xenia both study at the Sweelinck Academy, the CvA's study programme for young talents; Lisette studies with Lex Korff de Gidts and Xenia with Marjes Benoist. Other Sweelinck Academy students have also done very well: Krisna Pijloo (16) won first prize for guitar and Prawira Pijloo (13) second prize. Both guitarists study with Lex Eisenhardt. Violinist Maren Bosman (16) also won first prize. Maren studies with Lex Korff de Gidts at the Sweelinck Academie.

Fortepianist Olga Pashchenko has won first prize at the International Fortepiano Competition Premio Ferrari in Rovereto, Italy. She was also awarded the Critic's Jury Prize. Olga studies with Richard Egarr in the second year of the master's degree programme.

Cellist Alexander Warenberg (14) has won first prize at the ninth international cello competition Antonio in Croatia. Alexander studies with Monique Bartels at the Sweelinck Academy, the national study programme for exceptionally talented young musicians.

Mathilde Wantenaar (19), first- year composition student in the bachelor programme with Willem Jeths, has been awarded with the Donemus Incentive Prize for Female Composers for her – still untitled – composition proposal for the original combination of piano, bandoneon, B flat clarinet, viola, cello and double bass. The jury was very happy to award the prize, an amount of  € 2.500,- to the youngest participant in the competition. From the jury report: ‘The jury looks forward to seeing how she will develop the original and surprising elements in her proposal. The plan exudes a youthful enthusiasm, but also a well-thought-out and mature vision on her own work. The piece is, in Mathilde’s words, an echo of life itself, it is like a rollercoaster ride filled with emotions.’

The Classical voice department has been extremely successful at the 49th International Vocal Competition. In addition to soprano Gulnara Shafigullina, who won first prize in the category ‘opera’, many other CvA students won prizes. Tenor Peter Gijsbertsen won first prize in the category ‘Lied’ and the Et Fit Lux Song Award (best interpretation of the IVC song composition). Mezzo soprano Maria Fiselier won the Prize of the Province of Noord-Brabant, the ‘Vrienden van het Lied’prize, the prize of the Nederlandse Händelvereniging, the prize of the Alban Berg Ensemble and the Junior Jury Prize. Peter en Maria both study with Sasja Hunnego. Soprano Hannah Bradbury, who studies at the Dutch National Opera Academy, won the Media prize. 

Olga Pashchenko, second year master fortepiano student and first year master harpsichord student with Richard Egarr, has won several prizes this summer. In July 2012 she won first prize and special prize of the Chopin Society at the International Hans von Bülow Piano Competition in Meiningen, Germany. In August 2012 she won second prize and prize of the audience at the International Competition Musica Antiqua for harpsichord in Brugge, Belgium.

The Van Baerle Trio has been awarded the Kersjes prize 2012, an amount of € 50.000,-. The trio consists of pianist Hannes Minnaar, cellist Gideon den Herder and violinist Maria Milstein, who are all CvA alumni. CvA student Amarins Wierdsma has been awarded the Kersjes violin grant, an amount of € 15.000,-

CvA-student Gulnara Shafigullina has won first prize in the category 'opera' at the 49th International Vocal Competition. A couple of weeks ago Gulnara won second prize at the Montserrat Caballé Concours in Madrid.

The Philip Czarnecki Quintet, formed by CvA students and alumni, has won the third prize at the 34th Jazz Hoeilaart in Belgium. CvA alumnus Pat Cleaver, bass player in the Philip Czarnecki Quintet, won the prize for Best Bass Player.

With his composition Spring, Pol Belardi is one of the four winners of the Orchestre National de Jazz Luxembourg 2012 Composition Contest. Pol studies bass guitar in the jazz master’s degree programme.

Violinists Kim Spierenburg (19) and Emma Roijackers (17) have won the ‘Labberté-Hoedemaker’ prize (€ 1.000,- each) at the Peter the Great Festival 2012. They were awarded the prize because they most distinguished themselves during the Summer Academy, which was a part of the Peter the Great Festival.
Kim Spierenburg studies in the bachelor’s degree programme; Emma Roijackers at the Sweelinck Academy, the CvA’s study programme for exceptionally gifted young musicians. 

Über-Ich, formed by students from the Pop Department, have won the semi-final of the ‘Grote Prijs van Nederland’ – a major pop music award in the Netherlands - in the category ‘Band’. They will compete in the final on December 8, 2012. Last year Yori Swart, alumna from the Pop Department, won the ‘Grote Prijs’ in the category ‘Singer/songwriter’.

The Nieuw Amsterdams Kinderkoor (NAK) (New Amsterdam Children's Choir) has won silver at the '9th International Cantemus Choral Festival' in Hungary. The NAK offers a classical voice training programme for children of four years and older and cooperates intensively with the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. This summer the choir has been conducted by Sofia Goldasi who studies choral conducting at the CvA.

Sujin Jung, piano student at the Jazz Department, has won the Consorzio Terme Euganee Prize at the Jazz by the Pool 2012 festival in Italy. The prize consists of a grant of € 2000,-

Saxophonist Stefan de Wijs, student with Arno Bornkamp at the CvA, has won first prize at the 10th International Music Competiton Citta' di Padova in the category 'Virtuosity'.

The band Kapok, formed by CvA alumni Morris Kliphuis, horn, and drummer Remco Menting, and guitarist Timon Koomen, has won the Dutch Jazz Competition 2012. CvA alumnus Maarten Hogenhuis, saxophone, won the prize for best soloist. Voice student Laura Polence won the prize for best composition.

Carter Muller (11) has won the competition for young talents organized by the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. Carter studies piano with Marjes Benoist at the Sweelinck Academy, the training programme for exceptionally talented young musicians. Carter's winning performance may be viewed here: http://youtu.be/xUKtLophC2E

Andys Skordis (1983), who graduated in 2011 from the master's composition programme, has been awarded the Buma Toonzetters Prize, an amount of € 10.000,-, for his work The deeper you go...the deeper you go...the deeper you go...deeper you go...you go...you?. The international jury considered it the best Dutch composition of 2011.

Harpsichordist Alexandra Nepomnyashchaya has won three prizes at the International Music Competition Prague Spring in the harpsichord. Not only did she win first prize at the competition, she also won the ‘Czech Music Fund Foundation Prize’ for the best performance of the composition Danse macabre, and the ‘Bohuslav Martinů Prize’ for the best performance of a work by Martinů.

Attila Vadasz, former organ student with van Pieter van Dijk, has won first prize at the Italian organ competition Elvira di Renna.

CvA student Jasper van Damme has won the Conservatorium Talent Award at the Jazz in Duketown Festival in Den Bosch, an award for jazz musicians studying at a conservatory. He won prize money amounting to €10.000,- to be used towards further musical development. The jury was unanimous in their choice. Jasper, who will graduate from the master programme this year, is planning to use the money towards recording a CD and visiting the United States to play with various musicians. Additionally, he will play at Jazz in Duketown 2013.

Mirjam Irene Kok has won the Dutch Euro Competition Cello on May 14th. As a result, she will represent the Netherlands in the international final in Brussels, September 6-8, 2012. She also won the Audience Prize of € 1000,-. CvA students Kalle de Bie and Rebecca Wise both won an incentive prize.

Saxophonist Stefan de Wijs, student with Arno Bornkamp, has won the 'Linkprijs', a prize for the performance of contemporary music. Jury members were Doris Hochscheid, Anne La Berge, Daan Manneke and Louis Buskens (jury president).

The Ebonit Saxophone Quartet have won the Ottomani Saxophone Quartet Competiton Den Bosch (the Netherlands). The Ebonit Saxophone Quartet is formed by first- and second-year students Simone Müller, soprano saxophone, Dineke Nauta, alto saxophone, Johannes Pfeuffer, tenor saxophone, and Paulina Kulesza, baritone saxophone.

Van Amsterdam Duo (violin and accordion) have won first prize at the 49th International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal (Germany) in the category ‘Chamber Music’. Jeanine van Amsterdam studies violin at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Peter Brunt. Her brother Vincent will finish his accordion study at the Fontys conservatory Tilburg this year and will continue his study with Stefan Hussong in Würzburg (Germany). Van Amsterdam Duo played works by Kusjakov, Vivaldi, Subitzky, Nielsen and Piazzolla. In addition to prize money they won a cd recording and several performances in Bratislava.

The Dudok Quartet has won first prize at the 27th Charles Hennen International Chamber Music Competition. The international jury praised the quartet for their convincing performance of Ligeti’s first string quartet. The Dudok Quartet is formed by violinists Judith van Driel and Marleen Wester, violist Mark Mulder, and cellist David Faber. Judith, Marleen and David are CvA alumni.

Lucie Horsch (12) has won first prize at the Prinses Christina Competition, a national competition for young musical talents in the Netherlands. Lucie studies recorder at the Sweelinck Academy, the young talents programme at the CvA. As a result, she will give several concerts with the Rubens Quartet and perform at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

Three bands from US conservatories and three CvA bands competed on April 1st in the final to a packed Bimhuis. North by North East - formed by CvA students Toms Rudzinskis, alto sax, Matiss Cudars, guitar, Joel Illerhag, double bass, Kaspars Kurdeko, drums - won de Keep an Eye International Jazz Award, an amount of € 2500,-. First runner up was MSM Jazz Quartet from the Manhattan School of Music, New York, they won € 1000,-. Drummer Jake Goldbas (MSM Jazz Quartet (New York)) won the ‘Best American Musician’ prize: participation in the Summer Jazz Workshop at the CvA, July CvA 2012. Pianist Liya Grigorian (Soso Lakatos Quartet (CvA) won the ‘Best Dutch Musician’ prize: participation in the Hudson Jazz Workshop in New York, August 2012. The ‘Best Composition’ prize of € 500,- was awarded to Sandor Lakatos (Soso Lakatos Quartet, CvA).

On March 25, fourth-year classical saxophone student Evgeni Novikov won first prize at the Concours International Tous en Scene in Dreux (France). He played Musique de concert by Marius Constant and Xiwind by Philippe Geiss before an internationally acclaimed jury. The prize is a Selmer Series III alto saxophone.

Pannonica Tango Quartet has won the Doble Ocho International Tango Festival in Nijmegen, a prestigious award for tango in the Netherlands. As a result the quartet gets the opportunity to bring their music to the Argentinean embassy and various tango festivals.
Pannonica Tango Quartet consists of four CvA saxophone students - Paul Lamarque, soprano saxophone; Miguel Ortega, alto saxophone; Lucas Malec, tenor saxophone, en Juan Manuel Dominguez, baritone saxophone - with the appealing particularity that two of them are from the jazz department and two from the classical.

Cellist Lidy Blijdorp has won the Grachtenfestival Conservatorium competition. She has won a grant of €2.000,- and will perform at the Grachtenfestival 2012 (10-19 August).

Many CvA students have won prizes at the Prinses Christina, a competition for young musicians. Lucie Horsch (12), recorder, won first prize and the audience prize in category 1 (age 12-14). In category 2 (age 15-19) Benjamin de Boer (16), double bass, won second prize. Mees Vos (17), horn, won the incentive prize. Richard Chang (16) won first prize in category 3 (conservatory). Trombonist Iris Tjoonk (19) won second prize.

Trombone student Sebastiaan Kemner, student with Pierre Volders, has won one of the two places for trombone in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchester-Akademie. Founded in 1972, the Orchester-Akademie aims to equip extraordinarily talented young musicians to meet the requirements of the Berlin Philharmonic and other leading international orchestras. Tutored by members of the orchestra, they acquire unique skills and experience.

Felipe Ignacio Noriega, composition student in the master programme, has won on January 28 the  Audience Prize of the 2scoreMusicTheater competition. With percussionist Arend Bruijn (Classical percussion student) and Dani Sánchez Marcos (tuba student in the master programme) the pilot of Felipe’s opera LAKE was performed Enschede to a sold-out audience. The main roles in the opera were performed by counter tenor Harm Huson, soprano Aleksandra Asinimovic and mime Luc Boyer. The prize amounts to € 1.000,-. Read more: http://lake-opera.tumblr.com/

On January 28, trumpet student Melissa Venema (16) won first prize at the Concours International des RIC 2012 in Namur, Belgium. This is an international competition for young brass players (12-23 years old). Melissa qualified for the international final, which will take place March 28-30 in Namur.

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