ON THE WAY TO THE TOP

The project “On the Way to the Top” includes a 4-day masterclass given by leading musicians to 4 or 5 chamber music ensembles, consisting of Dutch Conservatories’ students and/or recently graduated musicians, concluding with a concert at MuziekHaven Zaandam. One of the ensembles will also be selected to appear on-stage in the Recital Hall of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, one of the world’s top classical podia.

For this pilot edition, the renowned English violinist, chamber musician and teacher at the Royal Academy of London (UK) Richard Ireland, also known as the founder of Chamber Studio, is invited to work with 4 or 5 ensembles. During the pre-selection stage (April-May 2024), one of the ensembles will be chosen to give a performance at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam on December 8th, 2024, and specifically coached to perform their program in the Recital Hall.

The 4-day masterclass is completely free for the pre-selected participants. The application is open to everyone, and the selection process is fully based on the ensemble’s artistic skills and potential; it will be carried out by the teacher together with the Committee from MuziekHaven Zaandam. The masterclass will take place during the autumn holidays (October 31 - November 3, 2024). At the end of the 4-day coaching marathon, all the participants will perform for the public on the stage of MuziekHaven.

This project offers unique opportunities for the participants: not only will they receive free masterclasses by the renown musicians, but also get a unique chance to perform on one of the most acclaimed stages in the world.

MuziekHaven Zaandam

In the summer of 2019 the violinist-couple Maria Milstein and Mathieu van Bellen became owners of MuziekHaven on the Papenpad in Zaandam. Their dream was to create a centre for chamber music where soloists and ensembles could fully immerse themselves into the creative atmosphere, to enable them to further develop their professional skills and help them discover and form their unique personal identity. And this dream indeed came true.

MuziekHaven is situated in the historical Schuurkerk - a national monument, a unique building with beautiful acoustics especially suitable for chamber music. Thanks to its three-storey parsonage and a large garden, this poetic location becomes an ideal scene for a chamber music residence. More and more performers and ensembles are finding their way to MuziekHaven. Throughout the year, they use MuziekHaven with it’s excellent grand piano(s) to prepare for concerts, competitions, auditions or CD recordings in this peaceful and creative atmosphere.

Masterclasses

Since 2023, Maria Milstein and Mathieu van Bellen have been organizing public Masterclasses in the MuziekHaven. During the first edition, which took place in August 2023 as part of the MuziekHaven Summer Series, masterclasses were led by the renowned Busch Trio (Omri Epstein, piano, Mathieu van Bellen, violin and Ori Epstein, cello). After a 4-day coaching session, the young chamber music ensembles performed in the MuziekHaven to a broader audience on Sunday, August 5, 2023.

Due to great success, it has been decided to repeat this formula again in August 2024 - the second edition of Masterclasses will take place during the MuziekHaven Summer Series.

Collaboration with the Stichting Bevordering Jong Talent brought new exciting possibilities to the project - to not limit masterclasses to the Summer Series alone, offering more promising ensembles the opportunity to develop further. As a pilot, another public Masterclass will be organized during the autumn holidays of 2024, linked to the performance in the Small Hall of the Concertgebouw on December 8, 2024.

Participants of the Masterclass will be young chamber music ensembles, still studying at a Conservatory or recently graduated, whose ambition is to continue their professional journey as a chamber music ensemble. We expect 4 to 5 participating ensembles, for a total of approximately 12 to 18 musicians. MuziekHaven will offer rehearsal opportunities for participants in the various rooms of the associated parsonage, arrange host families for participants who have to travel from far away, and provide catering for all participating musicians and the audience.

Classes will be open to the public and held for a total of 4 days in a row, starting on Thursday, October 31 and ending on Sunday, November 3, in the morning and part of the afternoon. On the evening of Sunday, November 3, 2024 the participants will perform the pieces they’ve been working on during the Masterclasses under the guidance of the renowned professor Richard Ireland, on stage of the MuziekHaven.

One of the ensembles will be chosen to perform on the stage of the Concertgebouw. The selection will be done by the teacher and the Music Haven Committee, based on the video recordings sent in advance (in April-May 2024) as, according to the guidelines of the Concertgebouw, the online ticket sales have to start on June 1, 2024 when the season’s program goes online.

MuziekHaven Zaandam

Masterclasses

MASTERCLASSES

CONCERT

© 2022 STICHTING BEVORDERING JONG TALENT

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