Hi! My name is Manon van de Kempe, and I play a beautiful violin from my hometown of The Hague, built by Wilhelm Paul Kunze in 1930. I was able to choose this instrument while I was at the School for Young Talent, and now that I’m about to start my master’s program in Rotterdam, I still can’t get enough of it! The instrument has a rich and full sound. In the lower register, it has a beautifully deep and rounded tone, while the higher register can be very sparkling and clear.
I’m incredibly grateful to be able to play such a beautiful and versatile instrument with a stick that complements it so well. It gives me the opportunity to go on tour one month with Mahler’s Ninth on the program and then perform as concertmaster at Tomorrowland the next. Currently, I play in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, among other groups, with Ruben Hein as artistic director, and I serve as a substitute with Soldaat van Oranje. I love being able to touch people through music and bring something beautiful into the world.
In addition to my own development, I also think it’s important to pass music on to the next generation. I really enjoy giving private violin lessons, and I sometimes participate in the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra’s educational projects.
