April 27 – May 3, 2025
It is a great pleasure to announce the sixth edition of the Stift Musical Encounters at the end of April and beginning of May 2025. This will be held once again in and around the hub of the Stiftfestival in the beautiful and historic Stift in Weerselo, Holland.
Applications have started (see underneath).
Join us for a flexible mix of individual classes and intensive chamber music, side by side with the internationally renowned faculty. We will spend the days rehearsing chamber music together, with coaching sessions and rehearsals well into the evenings. There are several concerts where the repertoire that we have worked on during the week will be performed. There will also be room for some individual masterclasses, and a concert dedicated to this ‘solo-repertoire’. A tradition of the SME has also become the spontaneous evening chamber music reading sessions in the Stiftskerk (Stift church).
We are delighted to announce the faculty members for this sixth edition will be: Daniel Rowland (violin), Floor Le Coultre (violin), Lilli Maijala (viola), Maja Bogdanovic (cello), Marianna Shirinyan (piano), Anthony Hewitt (piano), Chen Halevi (clarinet) and Olivier Thiery (double bass).
More about the Masters
Repertoire
See the programme here (in Dutch)
The participation fee is 650 euros (with a 50 euro discount per person when you are applying with a whole ensemble). This includes accommodation with host families and all meals: communal lunches and dinners. Travel costs from your home to the festival are for your own account, travel during the SME week is arranged and included.
Applications are open for individual participants as well as existing duos, trios and quartets.
Schedule
Arrival will be on 27th April in the afternoon, first sessions at 16.00 pm
The week includes sessions, informal chamber music readings in evening and side-by-side concerts in the Stiftkerk as well as a concert at Muziekcentrum Enschede.
Final concert will be on Saturday 3rd May at 16.00 and participants can schedule departure from 19.00 h.
Lessons and concerts take place at the gorgeous 15th century Stiftskerk and the Stiftschool next to it.
Those familiar with the Stiftfestival will know the charming and very pretty setting and the famous Twents hospitality!
We like to receive a filled in application form (underneath) and a recording of minimum two contrasting pieces. Application deadline is February 20th, 2025 – we will notify applicants by 10th March.
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Any questions? Please write to our director Ilonka van den Bercken at ilonka @ stiftmusicfestival.nl
The Masters
The internationally renowned Masters for the fifth edition
Daniel Rowland (violin), Floor Le Coultre (violin), Lilli Maijala (viola), Maja Bogdanovic (cello), Marianna Shirinyan (piano), Anthony Hewitt (piano), Chen Halevi (clarinet) and Olivier Thiery (double bass).
More about the Masters
Participants
Considering to participate?
Applications for the 2025 edition are now open!
Keep an eye on this website, and you can apply stating your instrument, teacher, experience and repertoire. Students who have applied, will receive a reply from us before April. Please, do not hesitate to inquire with any questions to our director Ilonka van den Bercken: ilonka @ stiftmusicfestival.nl.