Participants 2025

Cello

Christian Akopian (15), cello, was born in the Netherlands. He studies at the Sweelinck Academie (Conservatorium van Amsterdam). Christian is a threetime prizewinner at the Britten Cello Competition and has been honoured at the Princess Christina Competition with the Development Prize and an Honourable Mention.

Daniel Brandon (24), cello, was born in the UK. He studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Daniel is winner of the Vienna Klassik Award and received the Dr. Gerda Rohde Preis by the Hochschule für Musik Hannover. He was awarded the second prize in the Harald-Genzmer-Interpretationswettbewerb.

Valentin Delafontaine (23), cello, was born in France. He graduated from the Pôle Supérieur Paris – Boulogne-Billancourt, obtaining a Bachelor degree in cello, a state diploma of pedagogy for cello teaching, and a musicology bachelor. Valentin studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel.

Noé Drdak (24), cello, was born in France. He graduated with honors at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, where he obtained his master's degree. He is currently in his first year of master concert in Lausanne HEMU.

Alex Lavine (27), cello, was born in the USA. He graduated at the Manhattan School of Music, where he was honored with the Kraeuter Musical Foundation Award and twice recognized in the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition. Alex pursues postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He won the second prize in the North London Music Festival’s D’Addario String Competition.

Carlo Lay (25), cello, was born in Singapore. He studies at the Universität der Künste in Berlin. Carlo was awarded the Sponsorship Prize of the Rheingau Musikfestival and honored with the Maria-Ladenburger Sponsorship Prize for music. He is a prizewinner at the Flamecompetition, the Beethoven Bonnensis Competition and the Anton Rubenstein Chambermusic competition.

Luna Pantoja (20), cello, was born in Cuba. Zij studeert aan de Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Luna was awarded the second prize at the Irvine Conservatory International Music Competition in Los Angeles. She won the first prize in the Cayo Competition for Young Cellists.

Wojciech Prazuch (24), cello, was born in Poland. He finished his bachelor degree at the Hochschule fur Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin. In 2019, Wojtek received a scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for artistic achievement. He is a winner of the Stringtime NiederRhein Gocher Streicher - Akademie program and received the second prize at the International Young Musician Competition in Stockport.

Jorge Sierra (21), cello, was born in Spain. He studies at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu in Barcelona. Jorge was awarded the first prize of the International Contest from CARM, the second prize in the Slava International Cello Competition, an Honorific mention in the Vienna International Strings Competition, the Mention Prize in the Young Category of the 5th BBVA prize for the Individual Musician Talent and the Honorific mention in the Verão Clássico Music Festival.

George Wilkes (24), cello, was born in the UK. He studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. George won the third prize at the Verão Clássico Festival.

Violin

Emanuel Akopian (10), violin, was born in the Netherlands). He studies at the Davidsbündler Music Academy in The Hague. Emanuel won twice a prize at De Muziekwedstrijd (Princess Christina Competition). He received recognition at the Maassluis and Britten Violin Competitions and won the Spotlight Competition.

Nelleke Boor (24), violin, was born in the Netherlands. She studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Nelleke played with the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands (NJO), where she was concertmaster and principal second violinist. Since 2024 she is a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra.

Ruben Ide (21), violin, was born in Belgium. He studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Ruben won the second prize and subsequently the first prize in the Britten Competition.

Yente Lottman (23), violin, was born in the Netherlands. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. Yente was awarded the first prize at the Dutch Britten Violin Competition. She won the first prize in the regional finals of the Prinses Christina Competition.

Anna Maring (22), violin, was born in the Netherlands. She studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag. Anna won the second prize in the national finals of the Prinses Christina Concours. She received the Hanzevast Young Talent Award at the Aurora Festival and was awarded the second prize at the Verão Clássico Festival.

Nanami Moussault (25), violin, was born in the Netherlands. She studies at Hochschule für Musik, Drama und Medien Hannover. Nanami won the first prize at the Britten Violin Competition and was awarded both the third prize and the Emil Kamilarov Prize at the International Pancho Vladigerov Competition. She won the third prize at the Carl Wendling Chamber Music Competition.

Maitena Paillet (22), violin, was born in Spain. She studies at the Syddansk Musikkonservatorium in Odense (Denmark). Maitena was awarded the Grand Prize at the Stockholm International Competition.

Pippa Sieppala (24), violin, was born in Finland. She studies at the Musik Akademie Basel. Pippa won the third prize in the Jyväskylä Violin Competition. P

Tess Verweij (18), violin, was born in the Netherlands. She studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Tess won the first prize at the Iordens B Violin Competition and the Spotlight Competition.

Alma Vink (22), violin, was born in Belgium. She studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag. In Cambridge, Alma was on the Instrumental Award Scheme, and was principal of the second violins in the University Orchestra, with whom she was awarded the opportunity to perform as a soloist, leading the orchestra from the violin.

İdil Yunkuş, violin, was born in Turkey. She obtained her master’s degree with cum laude at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag. İdil received the “Awards Klassiek” by the Keep an Eye Foundation. She was awarded the Jaring Walta Prize from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Fonds.

Clarinet

Ruiqi Wang (23), clarinet, was born in China. He finished his bachelor in China and is going to study at a conservatory in Germany to receive his master.

Danielle Ben-Kennaz (26), clarinet, was born in Israel. She received her master’s degree and Konzertexamen at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen (Germany). Danielle won the second prize in the Paul Ben-Haim Competition and the first prize in the Kfar-Saba Wind Instruments Competition. 

Louise Lind Bouquin (22), clarinet, was born in Denmark. She studies privately with Annelien van Wauwe in Belgium, after receiving her bachelor’s degree at the Det Kongelige Danske Musikkonservatorium (Royal Danish Academy of Music). She is planning to take her masters next year.

Siyao Li (23), clarinet, was born in China. She studies at the Yunnan Arts University in China. Siyao was awarded the Xinglu Cup organised by the China Care for the Next GenerationWorking Committee. She was awarded the Special Gold Medal for Solo Wind Instrument in the Youth Group.

Tianshi Wang (35), clarinet, was born in China. He received his masters degree at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Wang won the third prize in the Professional Youth Category of the First "Buffet Crampon" Clarinet Competition in China, and the first prize in the Professional Ensemble Category at the "Chinese Music Alliance Shanghai" Youth Clarinet Competition. Recently he is teaching clarinet at the Hangzhou Normal University.

Baoyuan Zhou (23), clarinet, was born in China. He studies at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Trossingen (Germany). Baoyuan was awarded the Gold Medal at the Singapore Western Music Competition (SMF) in the Clarinet Solo category. He won the Special Gold Award in the Shaanxi Division of the Singapore Instrumental Music Invitational Competition and the Special Gold Award in the Professional Ensemble Group.

Viola

Zita Ho Nok Chon (16), viola, was born in China. She started studying the violin, but since 2023 she has focused on the viola. Zita won with the viola at the Macau Youth Music Competition Viola Intermediate Group the first prize and the Overall Champion and the Special Grand Prize (Intermediate).She was awarded the Gold Award (Concerto) at the Greater Bay Area Youth Music Week and the Gold Award (Strings Professional) at the Macau SAR Reunification Cup. She won with the violin the third prize at the Macau Youth Music Competition.

Adèle Vannieuwenhuyze (19), viola, was born in France. She studies at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris. She was awarded to the first prize at the Concours National des Très Jeunes Altistes. She is a young member of the One Music Project in New York City.

Jiayun Long (28), viola, was born in China. She received her master’s degree and professional diploma at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Jiayun is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, where her research explores the viola sound ideals and performance traditions of Lionel Tertis and William Primrose.

Nilsu Erten (24), viola, was born in Turkey. Apart from studying ther viola, she also completed all classes in the piano branch of the London College of Music exam held by the University of West London and was awarded the Certificate of Merit. She finished her bachelor of viola in Dreseden and recently is finishing her master at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden.

Xingzhi Che (24), viola, was born in China, where he received his bachelor’s degree at the South China University of Technology. He studies at the Conservatoire royal de Liège to receive his master’s degree.

Piano

David Kooi (16), piano, was born in the Netherlands. He studies at the Sweelinck Academie (Conservatorium van Amsterdam). David won twice the first prize in the junior version of the Princess Christina Competition. He subsequently won the national finals of the Princess Christina Competition and received the Press Prize from national music critics. David was awarded the second prize at the International Steinway Piano Competition.

Bónis Kozák-Sólyom (21), piano, was born in Hungary. He studies at the Hochschule für Musik Basel. Bónis was awarded the first prize at the International Piano Competition (Czech Republic), and the first prize at the International Piano Competition (Vietnam)

Adam Akopian (16), piano, was born in the Netherlands.He studies at the the Sweelinck Academie (Conservatorium van Amsterdam). He won the first prize at the National PianoFest and the Royal Concertgebouw Competitions. He was awarded subsequently the first and second prize in the national finals of the Princess Christina Competition. He won the third prize and the IKAM Exceptional Talent Award at the Kronberg International Piano Competition. He was the first winner of the Piano Biënnale Award, and was a finalist in the YPF/Liszt Competition Toetsen.

The Akopian Trio formed by brothers Adam, Christian, and Emanuel, the Akopian Trio is praised for its sensitivity, depth, and expressive storytelling. Their performances have been described as pure, mature, and emotionally compelling. They unite technical excellence with heartfelt communication.