Remy van Kesteren (1989) is regarded as a world-class harp talent and one of the most adventurous harpists of the moment. At the age of ten he was admitted to the Conservatory of Utrecht in the class of Erika Waardenburg where he graduated with the highest distinction in 2010. He pursued his studies at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Paris, where he worked with the famous harpist, Isabelle Moretti. Last year he received his master diploma ‘summa cum laude’ at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.
Remy van Kesteren is only 23, but has already won numerous prizes. He recently received the Elisabeth Everts prize, a prize for exceptional young talent in the Netherlands. He has won first prizes at the Dutch Harp Competition and the Princess Christina Competition. In 2008 he achieved a third prize at the International Harp Competition in Moscow and in 2009, third prize at the prestigious International Harp Competition in Israel. He was also proclaimed as Dutch Music Talent of 2009. In October last year, he toured through the country as a laureate of Dutch Classical Talent, a stimulating project of the Royal Concertgebouw and Radio 4, the final of which will take place on April 21, 2013 in the Concertgebouw.
His many prizes have resulted in worldwide concerts, from Europe to the US and Africa. He made his debut in the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam at the early age of sixteen with the Dutch Chamber Orchestra. The preceding year he played at the baptism of Princess Amalia and also at Carnegie Hall, New York. In 2011, he was Young Artist in Residence at the NJO Muziekzomer in Gelderland. At the end of 2012, Remy toured through the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany in the famous ‘Night of the Proms’ concert tour. As its only classical artist he performed alongside celebrated pop artists such as Anastacia and legendary group, The Jacksons. 500,000 visitors were captivated by his performance of Smetana’s The Moldau. According to the Proms organization, Remy has “the courage, the looks and the craftsmanship to raise attention for a unique instrument, that was never before seen in the spotlights of the Proms”. Remy was “the most beautiful surprise of the evening”, said the Belgian newspaper De Morgen (The Morning).
In 2012, he issued his first solo-cd, ‘Remy’, with works by Smetana, Holliger, Bach, Shostakovich and Renié. He developed himself as “an amazing colourist” and “a marvellous storyteller”, who “continually forces you to listen very carefully”, according to the Dutch press.
At twenty, he founded the Dutch Harp Festival, of which two successful editions have taken place in Utrecht in 2010 and 2012. Under his artistic direction the Festival will be held for the third time in February 2014, with prominent artists such as writer/poet Kees van Kooten, soprano Claron McFadden and choreographer Hans van Manen. Additionally, van Manen has invited Remy to work with him on a new ballet that will have its world première in the spring of 2014 with the Dutch National Ballet.
Remy van Kesteren is a regular guest on Dutch radio and TV. He has performed and guested in popular talkshows, news shows and classical music programs like De Wereld Draait Door, VPRO’s Vrije Geluiden, GIEL on pop station 3FM, De Tiende van Tijl, Met het Oog op Morgen, TROS Nieuwsshow on Radio 1, NTR’s Diskotabel and KRO’S De Ochtend van Vier.