students

on tour

Royé viola

Linde Bijvoet

Viola (Gand & Bernardel Frères, Paris 1877)

“I’m currently playing a fairly small viola (which I specifically chose at the time). Since I’ve started playing a lot more now, I’m looking for a bigger sound and a deeper tone that I’m having trouble getting out of my current viola. I’d love to try out a different instrument sometime!”

Bente Stallinga

Viola (Daniël Royé, Amsterdam 2006)

“Last year during the NSO, I heard a number of violas from the Musical Instrument Fund that sounded wonderful, so I think it would be great to be able to play such a beautiful viola this year as well.”

Steinhauer violin

Nienke Zweegman

Violin (Annelies Steinhauer, Hilversum 1995)

“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to play a violin from the Music Instrument Fund. I knew this was a possibility before I applied to NSO 2026, and ever since I was accepted, I’ve been looking forward to the experience of playing one of these beautiful instruments. Currently, I play a Chinese violin that isn’t particularly special. Especially over the last two years, I’ve increasingly felt that my current violin no longer matches my playing level and that I could take my violin playing to a higher level with a better instrument. Some of the feedback I received during the NSO audition included the suggestion that I need to produce more resonance in my playing. I feel that a better instrument could help me tremendously in this regard. I think my playing in the NSO will shine even more on a violin from the fund. I also hope that, once I’ve experienced what it’s like to play on a better instrument, I’ll have a better idea of what suits me, and that this will help me find a better violin on my own in the near future after my time with the NSO.’