Artist in Residence 2023 Joost Willemze © Melle Meivogel
Artist in Residence
"With Joost, you are on the edge of your seat from the first to the last note. He is technically completely above the material which gives him the space to take you into his musical story." Says the jury.
Joost Willemze (1996) is one of the greatest Dutch harp talents. He has been a prize winner at various national and international competitions, such as the International Harp Competition in Wales, the Gershwin Competition in New York, the Concours Godefroid in Tournai, the Reinl Wettbewerb in Munich, the Bertold Hummel Competition in Würzburg and the Korea International Harp Competition; he won the International Harp Competition in Porto in 2017 and the Italian Competition Suoni d'Arpa in 2018, and won prizes at the Prinses Christina Competition. In early 2022, he recorded his debut CD with AVROTROS Klassiek. For 2022/2023, Joost has been selected as a participant in Dutch Classical Talent.
Joost has been playing harp since the age of seven and became a student at the Academy of Musical Talent in 2008, where he studied with Erika Waardenburg and Edward Witsenburg. In September 2021, he received his master's degree with excellence at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Joost gave many concerts in Italy, Spain, and Brazil, among others. He is a regular guest on radio and television programs including Podium Witteman (now Podium Klassiek), Spiegelzaal, De Ochtend van 4, and could be seen on television as a soloist with the JeugdOrkest Nederland at the Kinderprinsengrachtconcert in 2010. In May 2013, he was one of four finalists in the NTR program The Evening of the Young Musician where he performed solo with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.
As an orchestral musician, Joost played in the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Nationaal JeugdOrkest, as well as as as a substitute with the Nederlands Philarmonisch Orkest and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.
Former winners: Nikola Meeuwsen (piano, 2022), Alexander Warenberg (cello, 2021), Shin Sihan (viool, 2020), Emmy Storms (viool, 2019), Raoul Steffani (bariton, 2018), Ella van Poucke (cello, 2017), Sophiko Simsive (piano, 2016), Mathieu van Bellen (viool, 2015), Rosanne van Sandwijk (mezzosopraan, 2014), Remy van Kesteren (harp, 2013), duo Sax & Stix (saxofoon en slagwerk, 2012), Karin Strobos (mezzosopraan, 2011), Judith van Wanroij (sopraan, 2010), duo Bosgraaf en Elias (blokfluit en gitaar, 2009), Lisa Jacobs (viool, 2008) en Ties Mellema (saxofoon, 2007).
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