At the recent Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna, two Dutch youth orchestras achieved significant recognition. The Jonge Strijkers Nederland from Amsterdam secured the first prize, while the Britten Jeugd Strijkorkest from Zwolle earned the second prize. The competition, held on July 4 in the renowned Golden Hall of the Wiener Musikverein, featured ensembles from around the globe.
The Jonge Strijkers Kamerorkest, an ensemble of advanced string players under the direction of Nico Schippers, participated in its first international competition. Schippers, who has been a trombonist with the Concertgebouworkest since 2004, expressed his enthusiasm about the victory, emphasizing the importance of hard work and the realization of dreams. The jury commended the orchestra’s warm and flexible sound, noting a resemblance to the Concertgebouworkest’s timbre.
The Britten Jeugd Strijkorkest, established in 2007 and led by conductor Loes Visser, comprises young musicians from central and eastern Netherlands. This marks their second accolade at the Vienna competition, having previously won first prize in 2014. Visser highlighted the orchestra’s experience of performing in the Musikverein as a unique and magical opportunity. The ensemble’s program included works by Dutch composer Henriëtte Bosmans, contributing to the international promotion of Dutch musical heritage.
Both orchestras’ achievements underscore the vitality and excellence of the Dutch youth music scene. Their performances not only showcased technical proficiency but also brought Dutch compositions to an international audience, reflecting the country’s rich musical tradition and the promising future of its young musicians.
Donemus congratulates both orchestras!
Composers in the crosshairs of our attention