New Stories

from our

instrument room

Signed

For many talented musicians, the spark has recently been ignited, and the necessary paperwork has been signed. We wish them an inspiring and, hopefully, long-lasting musical partnership!

We'd like to highlight a few stories for you:

Ignacio Pintó (24) takes great pleasure in playing a double bass built by Daniël Royé in Amsterdam in 2005. He came to Amsterdam five years ago to study electric bass guitar, but soon after discovered his love for the double bass. For a long time, he played a small gamba-style double bass that he bought at the start of this musical journey, but after a year and a half, he decided it was time for a better, larger double bass. Fortunately, he found one at Het Muziekinstrumentenfonds.

Double bassist Raquel Leite (23) was looking for a different instrument—but one that was smaller in size. She specifically requested the 1/2-size bass from our collection, built around 1900. According to Raquel, the instrument offers excellent projection and a rich tonal palette. We hope it will be a tremendous asset to her during her master’s program at Codarts Rotterdam.

Mateo Viscarra (26) is now the proud owner of a Feurich grand piano from Berlin (1992). The Bolivian pianist hopes not only to improve his skills so he can complete his studies at the conservatory, but also to be able to rehearse with his chamber music ensembles at home.

Marie Duquesnoy (26) has a violin built by Giovanni Battista Grancino (Milan, 1714) on loan. She plays in the Esh Quartet, which was recently selected as Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium. With so many lessons and rehearsals on the schedule, a high-quality instrument that challenges her to grow along with it will come in very handy!

Hyunjin Cho (25) met violinist Tjeerd Top after attending a concert by the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Japan with her parents. This encounter prompted Hyunjin to pursue her bachelor’s degree at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Both her teachers in Japan and in the Netherlands felt that her bow was not of the same caliber as her violin. Fortunately, she was able to turn to the fund in the Netherlands. Now Hyunjin has a Gillet violin bow (Nancy, ca. 1955) on loan, with which she hopes to pursue her dream: playing in the Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Make yourself a promise, Salter

Pippa Drijver (22) began her musical journey with the Leerorkest and is now studying at the Royal Conservatory under cellist Larissa Groeneveld. On her advice, Pippa turned to the Musical Instrument Fund. In her application, she wrote that she would like to select a suitable instrument with the help of our expertise. We were able to help her find a cello, built by Wilhelm Paul Kunze in The Hague, and a cello bow by Jan Strumphler (Vleuten, 2002).

Zenzele Mthembu-Salter (27) is now in his final year of the bachelor’s program he is pursuing at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. To study and rehearse, Zenzele borrowed the double basses available at the conservatory, since he was unable to bring his own double bass from South Africa. He felt it was time to have his own instrument—a good reason to submit an application to the Musical Instrument Fund. In a short interview, he shares more about the Jaap Bolink double bass he now has on loan, which he is very happy with.

Max Valkenburcht (21) has been loaned a Steinway & Sons grand piano (Hamburg, 1979), which means he no longer has to rely on the conservatory’s opening hours and the availability of instruments. Now he can tackle complex repertoire at home, whenever he wants!

Hebe Mensinga (53) had been playing a violin built by Vuillaume in Paris (1861), on loan from the Musical Instrument Fund, for many years. After nearly 11 years, she decided to return it. She fell in love with another instrument from our collection: a Grancino from Milan, 1712. Hopefully, they’ll enjoy each other’s company for just as long!

Tijmen Huisingh (46) pulled off a major swap: he exchanged the Santo Serafin violin (Venice, 1750), which he had been borrowing since 2017, for a Vuillaume. That’s the very violin Hebe had returned!

Both Daniel Pacho Villacorta (21) and Katie Yao Morgan (25) traded in their German grand pianos for a piano. Both musicians were very satisfied with their grand pianos from the Musical Instrument Fund, but due to a lack of space at home, they submitted a request for a smaller model.

Floris Kappeyne (30), on the other hand, has moved into a larger home, which allowed him to be reunited with his beloved Sauter (Spaichingen, 1980). He had had that grand piano on loan for nearly ten years, and fortunately, it was available again!

Finally, Helena Druwé (45), who has a deep passion for historical performance practice. Like her colleagues in the Penta Quintet, she played for many years on an instrument built by Pieter Rombouts. This year, she bid farewell to this shared connection by trading in the Rombouts for another Amsterdam Baroque violin, built in Jan Boumeester’s workshop (or nearby) around 1675.