Music has always played a significant role in my childhood. For a long time, I sang in a youth choir, was a singer and guitarist in bands, and listened to all kinds of music. The cello was a common thread running through it all. Although I was determined to keep this as just a hobby, while studying journalism I realized that I wanted nothing more than to make music my career.
I began my studies at the conservatory in Tilburg, immersed myself completely in the classical repertoire, and played in all kinds of groups. To further develop my non-classical background as well, I also began studying jazz toward the end of my bachelor’s program with Tim Kliphuis, among others. My master’s program was a complete blend of these two worlds.
In 2016, shortly after graduating, I founded the North Sea String Quartet with three creative colleagues. This string quartet serves as a creative outlet for us, where we can give a home to all the music we love. We compose our own repertoire—in which improvisation often plays a major role—and it is inspired by our diverse musical backgrounds. We also enjoy collaborating with other artists, such as Brazilian singer Lílian Vieira, American Delta Blues musician Roland Satterwhite, and Canarian guitarist Javier Infante. Our first album, “Electric Amazigh,” will be released in the summer of 2021. In this collaboration with Infante, you’ll hear influences from classical music, jazz, Canarian folklore, and Sephardic music, among others.
In addition to my work with the NSSQ, I enjoy playing in other small ensembles—both interdisciplinary and otherwise—I am a regular substitute with the Metropole Orchestra, and I love to compose. As a cello teacher, I work with great pleasure and dedication several days a week at the Factorium in Tilburg and every year at the Academy of Improvising Strings, where Tim Kliphuis and the North Sea String Quartet work with string players on improvisation.
The Musical Instrument Fund has loaned me a beautiful Hill & Sons bow.
