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Meet
cellist Tiago
Henriques

Thanks to your support of the Musical Instrument Fund, you’re bringing joy to hundreds of talented musicians. We’d like to introduce you to one of them: Tiago António Luís Henriques. The young cellist from Portugal visited our office in Amsterdam to receive the cello, built by Daniël Royé, from none other than the luthier himself! In this article, Tiago tells you more about the cello that has captured his heart.

News
4 July 2024 by Indy de Vries

"I want that one!"

Last year, Daniël Royé began building a cello commissioned by the Musical Instrument Fund. Daniël completed the instrument in April of this year and had it tested by various cellists, including Pieter Wispelwey, Mick Sterling, and Jan Ype Nota. Each of them, who are also teachers, played the cello for their students. Tiago also had the opportunity to play the cello at that time. He immediately felt a connection with it.

During his introductory meeting at the Musical Instrument Fund a few days later, Tiago mentioned that he was looking for a cello like this one. It can’t be a coincidence that Daniël Royé handed the cello to Tiago shortly afterward!

Why were you looking for a different cello?

My own instrument didn't meet my needs, and I really needed a upgrade. Everyone told me, "Go to the Musical Instrument Fund! They do a great job."

What do you think the cello sounds like?

The cello, built by Daniël Royé (in Amsterdam in 2024, ed.), feels very easy to play and has a lot of volume. The sound of all the strings together is rich in body and tone. The cello isn’t limited to just one range of sounds. It’s a powerful instrument that responds very well to all the tonal colors I want to produce.

Did you feel an instant connection, or was it really hard to choose?

The cello is very easy to play. It responds very well to everything, which is why. Whatever you can think of doing, this cello responds to it.

Is it hard to say goodbye to your old cello?

Yes and no. On the one hand, yes, because I played it for six years, and that cello was what got me into a conservatory abroad. On the other hand, it really was time for a change.

Which concert are you most looking forward to performing at with your new instrument from the fund?

I’m looking forward to the finals of the Princess Christina Competition on Sunday, May 12. I’m also looking forward to a few other concerts, such as an outdoor concert in Amsterdam. That one will be in Vondelpark in June. And I have a few projects planned with harpist Claire Schuurmans, including the CityProms Festival in Leeuwarden, also at the end of June. Together, we form Duo Tiaire.
The National Finals of the Princess Christina Competition have since taken place. Duo Tiaire received second prize in category 2c.

Behind the Scenes

The cello now gleams beautifully in the light, but what did the instrument look like when it was still unfinished and unvarnished? You can see it in this article.

Our Musicians

High-quality musical instruments are often very expensive, but thanks to your support, more than 435 talented musicians get to play a good instrument that suits them every year. The Musical Instrument Fund and the musicians are extremely grateful to you for this!

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