With a fresh perspective, the ADAM Quartet seeks ways to shine its own light on the string quartet while remaining true to the essence of the genre. The quartet played...
Musici 2026
The festival is supported by a group of world class musicians who play with dedication and love to share their passion for music, both known and contemporary, with the audience. This year, we welcome among others cellist Ella van Poucke, harpist Joost Willemze and pianist Ramon van Engelenhoven.
- composer
Composer Amarante Nat (Amsterdam, 1995) studied composition with Yannis Kyriakides and Martijn Padding, and classical singing with Gerda Van Zelm at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. Prior to that, she studied composition with Willem Jeths...
- cello
As a soloist, she has performed many times in cello concertos by Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Shostakovich, Haydn, Brahms, and Lalo, among others, in collaboration with orchestras such as the Württembergische Philharmonie and the North Netherlands Orchestra. Anastasia...
- piano, theater
Beth & Flo are two extraordinary pianists. Cheerful and sometimes a little crazy. They race across the keys with twenty fingers at once, but also play beautifully softly and dreamily. They are very good friends...
- composer
Björn Pinxter (born 2001) is a Dutch composer currently pursuing his second Bachelor of Composition at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. He is studying with Willem Jeths (former Composer of the Netherlands) and Meriç Artaç, with a focus...
- filmmaker
Boris Peters is a Dutch cinematographer and photographer. His work is wide ranging in narrative, documentary, interdisciplinary and experimental projects, in which cinematography and visual experience are central. Thanks to his musical background, he has a...
- composer
For Camiel Jansen, music, storytelling, and presenting ideas on stage have always been second nature. After graduating in jazz double bass and composition from Codarts, University of the Arts...
- piano
in Arnhem and continued his studies with Jan Wijn at the Amsterdam Conservatory. He obtained his master's degree with honors in 2014. Caspar then took masterclasses with Ferenc Rados, Dimitri Bashkirov, Eldar Nebolsin, Nikolai Lugansky, and others.
- viola
Violist Connie Pharoah is a sought-after soloist, leader, and chamber musician. Connie lives in Amsterdam and is a member of the Marigold Piano Quartet, which recently impressed audiences in the Netherlands with performances at the Concertgebouw, the Muziekgebouw...
- soprano
Elia Cohen Weissert is an Israeli soprano and cellist. She is currently a member of the Opernstudio NRW. Recent roles she has performed include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), and Sandmann/Taumann (Hänsel...
- cello
Ella van Poucke has established herself as one of the leading cellists of her generation. Praised for her musical integrity, flawless instrumental skills, presence, and intensity as a performing artist, the Dutch cellist belongs to...
- soprano
Soprano Elles Venhuizen graduated in 2025 with a 9.5 from the Master of Music program at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she was taught by Selma Harkink and coached by Roberta Alexander and...
- violin
Emma is active as a chamber musician, soloist, and concertmaster. Emma has been awarded several prizes. At the Oskar Back Competition 2022, she won second prize, the audience prize, and the prize for best performance...
- piano
Florian Verweij (1997) is praised for his candid and poetic playing, supported by virtuoso technique and refreshing spontaneity. ‘He is a true poet at the piano with an extensive technical arsenal, which he...
- filmmaker
In addition to his accomplishments as a filmmaker, Gus has an extensive portfolio as a visual artist. He has performed at renowned festivals such as Lowlands, Ruimtevaart and Grachten Festival. His creative installations can be found in various bars...
The musicians at the festival are a combination of experienced young professionals and a new generation of younger talents. For the first time in 2025, we put together a festival orchestra for the final concert. It became a...
- violin
Iris van Nuland (2002) from Oss received her first violin lessons at the Muzelinck music school at the end of 2008. During her secondary school years, she studied at the School for Young Talent at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague...
- clarinet
Jesse Faber (clarinet) played the violin until he was nine, then switched to the clarinet. He won prizes in the national finals of the Prinses Christina Concours and at the age of 18 he already went on...
- harp
Joost Willemze (1996) is one of the most prominent Dutch harpists. At the age of sixteen, he won first prize in the national final of the Prinses Christina Concours in The Hague. In 2017, he won...
- double bass
Jordi Carrasco Hjelm is a Swedish double bass player who focuses on chamber music and improvisation. He lives in the Netherlands, where he is a core member of the Asko Schönberg Ensemble, a leading ensemble in contemporary...
- viola
José Nunes (1996) is a Portuguese violist based in Amsterdam. Since August 2023, José has been assistant principal violist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of chief conductor Lahav Shani. José is currently also Artist in...
- piano
Koenraad Spijker, born September 12, 1991 in Amsterdam, developed a passion for music at an early age. From the age of six he started playing piano and a few years later followed by drums, his talent...
- violin
British violinist Laura Rickard is building a multifaceted international career as a sought-after chamber musician and soloist, festival director, and violin teacher at the Royal Academy of Music. She is artistic director of the Romsey Chamber Music...
- piano, organ
Laurens de Man (’s-Hertogenbosch, 1993) was the first organist to win the Dutch Music Prize this year. Laurens has won various prizes as a pianist and organist in competitions in The Hague, Würzburg, Groningen, and Freiberg, among others, where he...
- violin
Luke is a much sought-after soloist and chamber musician. He is currently performing Paganini's complete 24 Caprices in concert halls across Europe and the US, where he has received rave reviews. He has performed as a soloist in...
- flute
María Cristina González was born in Jaén (Andalusia), Spain, where she began her musical training at the age of ten. She studied at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she obtained her Master's degree in both classical music and...
- composer
Martin Butler studied at the University of Manchester, the Royal Northern College of Music, and Princeton University in the United States. From September 1998 to July 1999, Butler was composer-in-residence at the Institute for...
- piano
Michel Xie is a classical pianist who specializes in chamber music and accompaniment. He is affiliated with the Conservatory of Amsterdam as a piano teacher and accompanist. He is the founder and...
- composer
Noura Hodhodi (b. 2004, Tehran, Iran) is an Iranian composer and classical guitarist, a graduate of the Tehran School of Music. She is currently studying composition at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with Richard Ayres and Willem Jeths. Noura...
- cello
American cellist Rainer Crosett has performed as a soloist in the United States and Europe and has appeared at many renowned chamber music festivals. He received the 2018 Pierre Fournier Award in London and the Silver Medal at the...
- piano
Ramon van Engelenhoven (1995) began playing the piano at the age of six and studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he completed his master's degree in 2019 with the highest possible grade. He studied with Frank Peters...
- conductor
Sam Weller is a dynamic orchestra conductor with a passion for sharing orchestral music with the world. He lives and works in Amsterdam and is closely involved in innovative projects to attract new audiences...
- viola
Simone van der Giessen, born in Amsterdam, completed her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where she studied violin with Jan Repko and viola with Predrag Katanic. In Manchester, she...
- piano
Koenraad Spijker, born September 12, 1991 in Amsterdam, developed a passion for music at an early age. From the age of six he started playing piano and a few years later followed by drums, his talent...
- filmmaker
In addition to his accomplishments as a filmmaker, Gus has an extensive portfolio as a visual artist. He has performed at renowned festivals such as Lowlands, Ruimtevaart and Grachten Festival. His creative installations can be found in various bars...
- composer
Björn Pinxter (born 2001) is a Dutch composer currently pursuing his second Bachelor of Composition at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. He is studying with Willem Jeths (former Composer of the Netherlands) and Meriç Artaç, with a focus...
- composer
Noura Hodhodi (b. 2004, Tehran, Iran) is an Iranian composer and classical guitarist, a graduate of the Tehran School of Music. She is currently studying composition at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with Richard Ayres and Willem Jeths. Noura...
The musicians at the festival are a combination of experienced young professionals and a new generation of younger talents. For the first time in 2025, we put together a festival orchestra for the final concert. It became a...
- composer
Composer Amarante Nat (Amsterdam, 1995) studied composition with Yannis Kyriakides and Martijn Padding, and classical singing with Gerda Van Zelm at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. Prior to that, she studied composition with Willem Jeths...
With a fresh perspective, the ADAM Quartet seeks ways to shine its own light on the string quartet while remaining true to the essence of the genre. The quartet played...
- cello
As a soloist, she has performed many times in cello concertos by Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Shostakovich, Haydn, Brahms, and Lalo, among others, in collaboration with orchestras such as the Württembergische Philharmonie and the North Netherlands Orchestra. Anastasia...
- piano, theater
Beth & Flo are two extraordinary pianists. Cheerful and sometimes a little crazy. They race across the keys with twenty fingers at once, but also play beautifully softly and dreamily. They are very good friends...
- filmmaker
Boris Peters is a Dutch cinematographer and photographer. His work is wide ranging in narrative, documentary, interdisciplinary and experimental projects, in which cinematography and visual experience are central. Thanks to his musical background, he has a...
- composer
For Camiel Jansen, music, storytelling, and presenting ideas on stage have always been second nature. After graduating in jazz double bass and composition from Codarts, University of the Arts...
- piano
in Arnhem and continued his studies with Jan Wijn at the Amsterdam Conservatory. He obtained his master's degree with honors in 2014. Caspar then took masterclasses with Ferenc Rados, Dimitri Bashkirov, Eldar Nebolsin, Nikolai Lugansky, and others.
- viola
Violist Connie Pharoah is a sought-after soloist, leader, and chamber musician. Connie lives in Amsterdam and is a member of the Marigold Piano Quartet, which recently impressed audiences in the Netherlands with performances at the Concertgebouw, the Muziekgebouw...
- soprano
Elia Cohen Weissert is an Israeli soprano and cellist. She is currently a member of the Opernstudio NRW. Recent roles she has performed include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), and Sandmann/Taumann (Hänsel...
- cello
Ella van Poucke has established herself as one of the leading cellists of her generation. Praised for her musical integrity, flawless instrumental skills, presence, and intensity as a performing artist, the Dutch cellist belongs to...
- soprano
Soprano Elles Venhuizen graduated in 2025 with a 9.5 from the Master of Music program at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she was taught by Selma Harkink and coached by Roberta Alexander and...
- violin
Emma is active as a chamber musician, soloist, and concertmaster. Emma has been awarded several prizes. At the Oskar Back Competition 2022, she won second prize, the audience prize, and the prize for best performance...
- piano
Florian Verweij (1997) is praised for his candid and poetic playing, supported by virtuoso technique and refreshing spontaneity. ‘He is a true poet at the piano with an extensive technical arsenal, which he...
- violin
Iris van Nuland (2002) from Oss received her first violin lessons at the Muzelinck music school at the end of 2008. During her secondary school years, she studied at the School for Young Talent at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague...
- clarinet
Jesse Faber (clarinet) played the violin until he was nine, then switched to the clarinet. He won prizes in the national finals of the Prinses Christina Concours and at the age of 18 he already went on...
- harp
Joost Willemze (1996) is one of the most prominent Dutch harpists. At the age of sixteen, he won first prize in the national final of the Prinses Christina Concours in The Hague. In 2017, he won...
- double bass
Jordi Carrasco Hjelm is a Swedish double bass player who focuses on chamber music and improvisation. He lives in the Netherlands, where he is a core member of the Asko Schönberg Ensemble, a leading ensemble in contemporary...
- viola
José Nunes (1996) is a Portuguese violist based in Amsterdam. Since August 2023, José has been assistant principal violist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of chief conductor Lahav Shani. José is currently also Artist in...
- violin
British violinist Laura Rickard is building a multifaceted international career as a sought-after chamber musician and soloist, festival director, and violin teacher at the Royal Academy of Music. She is artistic director of the Romsey Chamber Music...
- piano, organ
Laurens de Man (’s-Hertogenbosch, 1993) was the first organist to win the Dutch Music Prize this year. Laurens has won various prizes as a pianist and organist in competitions in The Hague, Würzburg, Groningen, and Freiberg, among others, where he...
- violin
Luke is a much sought-after soloist and chamber musician. He is currently performing Paganini's complete 24 Caprices in concert halls across Europe and the US, where he has received rave reviews. He has performed as a soloist in...
- flute
María Cristina González was born in Jaén (Andalusia), Spain, where she began her musical training at the age of ten. She studied at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she obtained her Master's degree in both classical music and...
- composer
Martin Butler studied at the University of Manchester, the Royal Northern College of Music, and Princeton University in the United States. From September 1998 to July 1999, Butler was composer-in-residence at the Institute for...
- piano
Michel Xie is a classical pianist who specializes in chamber music and accompaniment. He is affiliated with the Conservatory of Amsterdam as a piano teacher and accompanist. He is the founder and...
- cello
American cellist Rainer Crosett has performed as a soloist in the United States and Europe and has appeared at many renowned chamber music festivals. He received the 2018 Pierre Fournier Award in London and the Silver Medal at the...
- piano
Ramon van Engelenhoven (1995) began playing the piano at the age of six and studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he completed his master's degree in 2019 with the highest possible grade. He studied with Frank Peters...
- conductor
Sam Weller is a dynamic orchestra conductor with a passion for sharing orchestral music with the world. He lives and works in Amsterdam and is closely involved in innovative projects to attract new audiences...
- viola
Simone van der Giessen, born in Amsterdam, completed her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where she studied violin with Jan Repko and viola with Predrag Katanic. In Manchester, she...