My name is Kaya, and I’m a violinist with a background in classical and Baroque music. These days, I’m also focusing on electronic music and experimenting with blending these different styles.
I started playing the violin when I was four. After completing the Jong KC program and the School for Young Talent, I earned my Bachelor’s degree at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, studying with Ilona Sie Dhia Ho. In 2023, I moved to New York to study at the Manhattan School of Music with Mark Steinberg. Starting in the 2025–2026 academic year, I will continue my studies at The Juilliard School, where I will further specialize in Baroque violin.
The transition to Baroque music came gradually, but felt inevitable. When I first encountered a Baroque bow and gut strings at a summer course in Upstate New York in 2024, something fundamental changed in my approach to music. Techniques from the historical performance practice began to naturally seep into my classical playing. I discovered new ways to color the tone and noticed that the direction of musical lines began to speak for themselves.
In 2024, I received a violin on loan from the Musical Instrument Fund. Experimenting with gut strings really brought the sound to life: warm, with a natural resonance that invites nuance and depth. The instrument challenges me to listen even more consciously, to play more intimately, but also to explore the instrument’s limits.
