Stift Musical Encounters 2020

The Stift International Music Festival is proudly looking forward to its 16th edition, with festivals held in late August and December. We are delighted to announce the second Stift Musical Encounters (SME). Dutch and international Conservatory students, as well as highly talented Pre-College students, are warmly invited to apply.

The international faculty for the SME 2020:
Thorsten Johanns, clarinet (Hochschule Weimar, former principal WDRSO, international soloist)
Daniel Rowland, violin (International soloist and chamber musician, professor Royal College of Music London, artistic director Stift Festival)
Vladimir Mendelssohn, viola (renowned chamber musician, composer, artistic director Kuhmo Festival, former professor CNSM Paris & Folkwang Hochschule Essen)
Maja Bogdanovic, cello (international soloist and chamber musician)
Juliana Steinbach, piano (International soloist and chamber musician)
Anthony Hewitt, piano (soloist, professor Royal Birmingham Conservatoire)

Chamber music coaching and individual masterclasses will be done by this renowned international faculty. Generous teaching time will be divided between one-on-one instrumental masterclasses and side-by-side chamber music sessions, giving participants the opportunity to rehearse and perform in groups with the faculty members. Each faculty member will be ‘playing coach’ for a number of chamber groups, with repertoire to include the Brahms Clarinet and Piano Quintets, Ravel Quartet, Beethoven Archduke and Ghost Trios, Bartók First Quartet and the Enescu Octet (among many others!). There will be three Master Concerts by the professors (where selected participants will be invited to join), and two Student Concerts, in the beautiful medieval Stiftskerk (Stift church) and the nearby Singraven Estate.

Lessons will be at Stift, one of the most atmospheric, historic and beautiful places in Holland and participants will stay with host families in the vicinity. Lunches and dinners are held together at the cozy Stiftsschuur restaurant and everyone will have the chance to enjoy the beautiful nature and famous Twents hospitality!

The exact program will be published on this website by February 15th, so stay tuned! If you already want to drop a note, or have a question, please mail Tobias Behnke (address below).

Warm regards, Daniel Rowland

Dates: April 28 (arrival morning) – May 3rd (final concert afternoon) 2020
Location: Stiftskerk Weerselo, the Netherlands, and other venues nearby
Application: Form available on this site as of January 25th
Practical questions: productie@stiftmusicfestival.nl (Tobias)