My name is Mieke Verduijn; I am a pianist, but I am also a very dedicated chamber musician and piano teacher. I am the artistic director of my own festival: Pianofestival Gouda. I am very happy and grateful to now have this beautiful Steinway grand piano at home, thanks to the Musical Instrument Fund. It is used extensively for studying, rehearsing, and teaching.
How It All Began
I started playing the piano at age 8 and took lessons with Sanja Milohanic. Around the age of 13, making music became my greatest passion, and I began dreaming of studying piano. However, after completing a one-year preparatory program in Utrecht at age 16, I decided to pursue a different field of study instead. I didn’t really feel at home in the teacher training program, but giving up isn’t in my nature, so I finished the program. During my teacher training program, I devoted a large part of my time and energy to studying piano. During this period, I took private lessons with pianist Andrew Wright and also participated in various masterclasses. Through the PABO program, I took a minor in education at the conservatory in The Hague. While I was doing my LIO internship (teaching four days a week), I auditioned for the classical piano program at the conservatory in The Hague, so I could still pursue my dream.
Conservatory Studies and Ensembles
In June 2024, I completed my master’s degree in classical piano. During my bachelor’s program, I studied with Slava Poprugin, and during my master’s program, David Kuyken was my primary instructor. During my time at the conservatory, I met my two colleagues from the Brioso Trio. We took both the chamber music minor and the chamber music master’s specialization, participated in various masterclasses—including the ECMA (European Chamber Music Academy)—and won prizes at competitions both at home and abroad.
During this time, I also began collaborating with Nanette Mans (soprano). As a song duo, we participated in the Udo Reidemann International Masterclasses in Brussels in 2021–2022, and we give concerts as a duo.
In addition, I regularly give concerts in collaboration with organist Leendert Verduijn. Among other things, we perform transcriptions of works for piano and orchestra.
Over the years, I have taken various masterclasses with pianists such as Eliso Virsalazde, Frank Braley, Vladimir Tropp, and Imogen Cooper. A particularly memorable experience was the masterclass with Alfred Brendel that I attended in Lucca together with the Brioso Trio.
Teacher and Organizer
I run my own piano teaching practice in Gouda: Pianoschool Scarlatti, a practice focused on children and young people. I enjoy being able to share my passion with them. I believe it’s important to encourage my students by organizing many performance opportunities, group lessons, and by taking them to concerts (see also my website).
My passion for organizing was fully realized in my master’s thesis project. As my graduation project, I organized the first edition of the Gouda Piano Festival: a multi-day piano festival in the center of Gouda. The first edition took place in February 2024 and was a great success. In July 2024, the Pianofestival Gouda Foundation was established, and I am now its artistic director. For more information: www.pianofestivalgouda.nl
