Anna Maring

My name is Anna Maring (Groningen, 2003). The Musical Instrument Fund has loaned me a beautiful violin with a rich, warm tone and lovely resonance. It was made in 1757, presumably by a French luthier.

Since September 2021, I have been studying classical violin at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Ilona Sie Dhian Ho.

I started playing the violin at the age of five with Rita Rouw at the Strijkersstudio in Groningen, and ever since I was seven, I’ve known that I want to make playing the violin my career. For me, music is the most important thing in the world. I love listening to music and making music with others, in ensembles and orchestras.

From 2016 through 2020, I had the pleasure of playing with the Haydn Youth String Orchestra (HJSO), under the direction of Jan Ype Nota. During my final year as concertmaster, I had the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the HJSO. Previously, I performed as a soloist with the Groningen Student Orchestra Mira, the Britten Youth String Orchestra, and the Drents Symphony Orchestra, and in September 2022, I had the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra. Playing with an orchestra of such a high caliber was an amazing experience for me.

I have participated in various music festivals and competitions, where I have won prizes. For example, in 2018 I received first prize at the Britten Violin Competition, and in 2021 I won second prize in the national finals of the Princess Christina Competition. During the 2022 Aurora Festival, I won the Hanzevast Young Talent Award, and at the Verão Clássico festival in Lisbon, I won a shared second prize.

I also took several masterclasses with renowned musicians, including Stephan Picard, Philippe Graffin, Shunske Sato, and Daniel Rowland. They encouraged me to listen to my playing in a different way.