young artist platform

In 2021, the festival introduced a new element: the Young Artist Platform. An audition in which six young, talented duos from home and abroad compete for two engagement prizes. Musicians who stand out - for instance during our masterclass or at one of the other festivals or competitions in Europe we collaborate with - are invited to present the most original possible programme around a newly composed commissioned work before an international jury. The duo that appeals most to the jury will be invited for a recital in one of the next editions of International Song Festival Zeist as well as Oxford Lieder Festival. It is our aim to increase performance opportunities for these outstanding duos in the coming years to offer them a springboard to the big stages. 

2023

On Friday 12 May, six young, promising song duos once again competed for the Young Artist Platform Prize. For this edition, Composer of the Fatherland Martin Fondse composed a new song on the theme Wanderlust, which will have its world premiere during this exciting audition. 

Martin Fondse himself says of his composition Sensation on a text by Arthur Rimbaud: 'Rimbaud invites us to take part in a journey full of adventure. Just as his words invite us to roam and wander, my composition invites us to be carried along on a musical journey and let it take you to the ends of musical styles. Wandering through the musical material, each performance has its own course and destination.'

Baritone Tomas Kildišius and pianist Ani Ter-Martirosyan won the third edition of the Young Artist Platform in 2023. They still participated in our masterclass in 2022 and stood out even then. They will be heard at a subsequent edition of the International Song Festival Zeist and the Oxford Lieder Festival.

Soprano Jessica Harper and pianist Anna Alvizou received an honourable mention for their interpretation of the obligatory work Sensation By Composer of the Fatherland Martin Fondse.

2022

Two young women sitting side by side holding a bunch of flowers.

Soprano Yue Wang and pianist Sara Pavlovic won the second edition of the Young Artist Platform in 2022. They will be heard at the International Song Festival Zeist and the Oxford Lieder Festival in 2024.

The commissioned composition whose world premiere they performed was Auf Flügeln des Gesanges by Maric Artaç.

2021

Two winning duos were identified during the first edition of the Young Artist Platform in 2021:

  • baritone Vincent Kusters & pianist Charlie Bo Meijering. In October 2022 they could be heard in Oxford and on 20 May they return to Zeist during the winners' recital New Roads.
  • soprano Karola Pavone & pianist Boris Radulović. They performed at the Winner's recital on Saturday 21 May 2022 and have been invited to the Oxford Lieder Festival in 2023.

The commissioned composition whose world premiere they performed was EldoradoEldorado by Hanna Kulenty.

en_GB