Zohra Jongerius

I started playing the violin when I was 7 years old, and immediately fell in love with the instrument. My love for music had been around for much longer—after all, my parents always had music playing at home, from Bach to Bowie :)

Since 2015, I’ve been a student at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where I completed the School for Young Talent program. I’m currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in classical violin at the same conservatory under Ilona Sie Dhian Ho.

While trying out instruments at the Musical Instrument Fund, I got my hands on a violin by Johannes Theodorus Cuypers from 1770. I was looking for a violin with plenty of tone and projection, one with which I could perform solo repertoire. The most common choice would have been a modern instrument, made in this century or at the end of the last, since makers have become very skilled at crafting loud instruments. However, I find one of the most beautiful aspects of making music to be its history—such as the small imperfections that were created long before I was even born. This Cuypers violin turned out to be exactly what I was looking for: an instrument with great projection from a time when Mozart was writing his operas. I hope to play it for many years to come!

In addition to the classical violin, I’ve also been playing the Baroque violin with Shunske Sato since 2019, which is why I have a beautiful Baroque violin from Mittenwald on loan from Het Muziekinstrumentenfonds. The dark-colored top perfectly complements the instrument’s profound sound. I must admit, however, that I chose it not only for its sound but also for its unique appearance. The Baroque bow by Andreas Grütter feels comfortable in the hand and allows me to express a wide range of musical nuances.