I started playing the violin at the age of 4 on a 1/32-size violin. Since the summer of 2022, I have been playing a 2006 Willibrord Crijnen violin. I’m combining my studies at the School for Young Talent at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with a Gymnasium program in Lansingerland. My greatest achievement was winning the Dutch Violin Competition in the Iordens A category.
My name is Sanne Lam (born in 2009), and I was born in Rotterdam. I live in Berkel en Rodenrijs with my parents and little brother, and I’m in my third year of high school. I’m really enjoying school and look forward to going every day! Outside of school, I spend time on homework, but I also spend a lot of time with my violin—especially working on playing more beautifully, rehearsing pieces, learning new things, improving my technique, and, of course, having 100% fun 😉. On Thursdays and Saturdays, you can find me at Amare, at the Conservatory of The Hague.
Violin Career
In 2013, at the age of 4, I started taking lessons on a 1/32-size violin (so tiny 😊) with Geneviève van Dijk through the CKC, the music school in Zoetermeer. Starting in 2015, I was accepted into the talent development program there and played in a really fun, small string ensemble, among other things.
After winning first prize in the HKZ-CKC Music Competition, I said goodbye to the CKC in 2018 and, at the age of 9, was accepted into the School for Young Talent at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where I studied with Kerstin Hoelen. Since 2024, I have been happily continuing my violin studies with my primary instructor, Ilona Sie Dhian Ho.
In 2019 and 2020, I was awarded second prize twice in the Princess Christina Competition’s Music Contest and performed at the winners’ concert at TivoliVredenburg. That was amazing—I always enjoy performing so much!
Dutch Violin Competition
What has been very difficult for everyone—and for me as well—are the years during the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdowns, online lessons, and almost no performances or other opportunities to play in public. Fortunately, by the end of 2021, we were able to return to school in person, and—with the necessary precautions—more musical activities could resume, such as the Violin Competition in January 2022.
I had been really looking forward to performing again and to making music with my violin on the stage of the Violin Competition. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and in the finals, the jury awarded my performance with pianist Natasja Douma first prize! Winning my age category—Iordens A—at the Dutch Violin Competition is the most wonderful prize I’ve ever received!
The Musical Instrument Fund
After the competition, the Iordens A jury emphasized to me that there is still more color, tone, depth, and expressive potential in my violin playing. Of course, that requires hard work, but a good instrument to inspire and support me in that process was already absolutely essential! The solution was immediately presented to me: I needed to go to the National Musical Instrument Fund.
Armed with glowing, heartfelt recommendations from well-known violinists, I was warmly welcomed by the Musical Instrument Fund in the spring of 2022. And since the end of summer, I’ve been provided with a beautiful Willibrord Crijnen violin from 2006, built in Marseille, and a light, beautiful bow by Eugène Eberle from Rotterdam. I am incredibly happy with this violin and bow, and I am very grateful to the Musical Instrument Fund for this. This instrument will help me continue to develop, push the boundaries of my abilities, and hopefully deeply move the audience with my violin playing.
Highlights
2023 “The Christmas Music Gala 2023,” AVROTROS | Broadcast on NPO 1
2023 “Summer Evening Concert,” F. Chopin: Nocturne in C-sharp minor, arr. Milstein | Radio @ NPO Klassiek
2023 “Children’s Prinsengracht Concert,” AVROTROS / Zapp | Broadcast on NPO 3
2023 Finals, Royal Concertgebouw Competition @ The Concertgebouw
2022 “Christmas with the Sand Wizard,” KRO-NCRV / Zapp | Broadcast on NPO 1 & 3
2022 First Prize, Iordens A – Dutch Violin Competition @ TivoliVredenburg
Masterclasses
I have taken masterclasses with: Theodora Geraets, Ilona Sie Dhian Ho, Wouter Vossen, Peter Brunt, Yamei Yu, Arisa Fujita, Floor le Coultre, Wojciech Koprowski, Moshe Hammer, Joseph Puglia, Jacobien Rozemond, Veselina Manikova, and Mara Oosterbaan.
Profile photo © Lee/De Smet @ Kinderprinsengracht Concert '23
