Playing the viola was already a joy, but thanks in part to Jan Strumphler’s viola bow, I’ve truly found my own sound!
What would life be without music? I couldn’t live without it. When I was four, I started taking violin lessons with Wiesje Miedema. Through Vivaldi, Komarovsky, and Accolay, I ended up at the Sweelinck Academy for Young Talent when I was twelve. That’s where I discovered the viola. What a sound! The viola and I quickly became best friends. Judith Wijzenbeek taught me the finer points. In 2019, I placed second at the Britten Viola Competition, and shortly thereafter I received the Gerda Schunck-Cremers Scholarship on behalf of a KCO foundation. A huge incentive to continue on this path! I’ve had the opportunity to perform as a soloist in a number of wonderful concerts: at the Singer in Laren, at Landgoed de Paltz with Herman van Veen, at Landgoed Vilsteren, at the Westerkerk in Amsterdam (Young Talent in the Oude Wester during the Grachtenfestival), on Radio 4 with Dieuwertje Blok, and in Warmond together with the Monward Consort. How cool is that!
In January 2020, I won first prize in the regional finals of the Princess Christina Competition and advanced to the finals. An honorable mention from the jury and the audience award were the fantastic results.
In June 2021, I once again won second prize at the Britten Viola Competition. I want to keep making music forever. In September 2021, I’ll begin my bachelor’s degree in viola with Francien Schatborn at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
