Composer Calliope Tsoupaki has been awarded the Johan Wagenaar Prize for 2026, marking the first time a woman has received this prestigious lifetime achievement award. The prize will be presented on October 16, 2026, during a concert by the Residentie Orkest at Amare in The Hague, where two of Tsoupaki’s compositions will be performed. The Johan Wagenaar Prize is one of the most significant honors for composers in the Netherlands, recognizing an artist’s entire body of work.
The independent jury, comprising Pieter van Loenen (chair), Emi Ohi Resnick, Jorrit Tamminga, Maarten van Boven, Yannis Kyriakides, and Hanna Shybayeva, unanimously selected Tsoupaki for this distinction. According to the jury, Calliope Tsoupaki distinguishes herself through her pronounced artistic signature and her consistent choice of her own path:Â
Calliope Tsoupaki dares to forge her own path and presents herself strongly. She possesses a large and highly personal oeuvre of high quality. Her music appeals to a broad audience. She has found her own voice and is innovative in her projects. Each work exudes a unique and recognizable musical and compositional signature. The often lyrical character of her works resonates with the audience. The jury is full of praise for the way she manages to incorporate her own cultural background into her work. In addition to being a great composer, she is also a major advocate for new music. She is everywhere, attends many concerts, is visible (certainly since she was Composer Laureate of the Netherlands), and is deeply committed to contemporary music.
The Johan Wagenaar Foundation, established in 1947, is dedicated to promoting musical excellence in the Netherlands. Commissioned by the Municipality of The Hague, the foundation administers several music prizes, with the Johan Wagenaar Prize being the most prominent. Awarded every six years, this prize uniquely honors a composer’s complete oeuvre. The recognition of Tsoupaki with the Johan Wagenaar Prize underscores her significant contributions to contemporary music and her role in bridging cultural and musical traditions. Her appointment as the first female recipient of this award marks a milestone in the history of the prize and reflects the evolving landscape of the classical music world.
The upcoming concert at Amare will not only celebrate Tsoupaki’s achievements but also serve as the opening event for a two-day festival centered around the theme “Ars Nova.” As guest curator, Tsoupaki will present a panorama of contemporary music, featuring performances by the Residentie Orkest and Ensemble Klang. The festival aims to explore the continuum of musical transmission and renewal, highlighting highlighting her own teachers, her dreamed-of mentors from the past, and the young teachers of the future.
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