Talent Development

Conductors and opera

The training of future singers and conductors is also close to the heart of Residentie Orkest . In this we cooperate with the Royal Conservatory of Music The Hague and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. 

The singing talents of the Dutch National Opera Academy (DNOA) receive musical support during their performances. And the future conductors of the National Master Orchestra Conducting receive master classes and get to walk with our chief conductor. 

National Master of Orchestra Conducting 

The National Master Orchestra Conducting (NMO) is a prestigious two-year master's program offered jointly by the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. The Residentie Orkest is one of the Dutch symphony orchestras contributing to the knowledge and skills of future conductors. 

We give master classes, for example, on the programming and positioning of orchestras in today's times by our general and artistic director Sven Arne Tepl. In addition, NMO students can regularly join productions as assistant conductors with our conductors. Mainly during the weeks when chief conductor Anja Bihlmaier is with the orchestra. Prior to our move to Amare in 2021, an additional interesting practical experience arose for two students. They were able to help think about the acoustics in the new Concertzaal during acoustic testing sessions.

Dutch National Opera Academy 

During this two-year master of the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and the Conservatory of Amsterdam, talented opera singers gain singing and acting experience. DNOA produces two full-fledged operas per year in collaboration with the Residentie Orkest and others. 

For example, we previously collaborated on the productions Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss Jr., Mozart! featuring scenes from the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Radamisto by Georg Friedrich Handel. Most recently, Mozart's Die Zauberflöte was performed in the Conservatory Hall at Amare. 

Competitions

In addition to supporting future musicians and composers who receive training through one of our partners, we also offer musical talents who enter competitions the opportunity to work with our orchestra. The finalists of the Dutch Violin Competition Oskar Back can solo with us on stage and the winning composition of the "Orchestral Work" category of the Gaudeamus Award will be played by us at one of our concerts. 

Dutch Violin Competition Oscar Back 

The Dutch Violin Competition is a biennial competition for young violin talent ages 6 to 26. The competition is divided into four age categories, including the Oskar Back category for youngsters aged 18 to 26. The Residentie Orkest is the regular accompanist of the finalists during the final concert of the latter age category.  

In addition to winning cash prizes, the finalists also get the chance to gain further experience at the so-called laureate concerts. For example, the winner of the Oskar Back category gets to solo in a concert with the Residentie Orkest. Among others, former finalists and now big names Emmy Verhey, Jaap van Zweden and Liza Ferschtman have already performed with the Residentie Orkest . 

Gaudeamus Foundation  

The most recent structural collaboration the Residentie Orkest entered into to encourage musical talent is with the Gaudeamus Foundation. To this international composition competition, the Orchestral Work category was added in 2020. Participants can not only apply for the composition prize, but now also have the opportunity to submit orchestral works specifically for the Residentie Orkest . As many as one hundred of the 233 participants submitted composition work for this first edition. 

The Gaudeamus Composition Award premiered at Residentie Orkest in December 2021. Out of 100 orchestral works, Lung by Canadian-Icelandic Fjola Evans was chosen to be performed for a concert at TivoliVredenburg conducted by Mei-Ann Chen.