Violin
Fontys Conservatory offers the following majors from the string instrument family: violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The strings department focuses on intensive training to help students develop in the realms of solo performance, chamber music and orchestral and ensemble playing. The department also aims to help string players find their way in a changing musical world through exciting multidisciplinary collaborations with other music and arts faculties at Fontys. The program has a strong focus on chamber and ensemble playing, with weekly chamber music lessons throughout the Bachelor and yearly examinations and opportunities to perform in the community. The department presents a monthly Strings on Stage concert, allowing our students the opportunity to grow and develop as performers. Other important points of focus are the yearly technical and orchestral parts exams, which including the opportunity to audition for the orchestra academy at the Philharmonie Zuidnederland. This helps students prepare for future orchestral auditions. The program is directed towards helping young string players turn into dedicated and versatile professional musicians.
Teachers
Jolente De Maeyer
Jolente De Maeyer began her violin studies at the age of four and, by 14, was invited by Yehudi Menuhin to study at his prestigious school in London. She later trained with renowned teachers in London, Berlin, and Belgium. From the age of six, Jolente participated in numerous national and international competitions, becoming the youngest laureate of the Jong Tenuto Competition and winning several awards, including the Charles de Bériot Competition in Brussels. She has performed as a soloist with prominent orchestras across Europe, working with esteemed conductors and making her U.S. debut in 2013. Jolente frequently performs in Belgium's top venues and international festivals and has played in major halls like Wigmore Hall and Royal Albert Hall. Since 2003, she has partnered with pianist Nikolaas Kende, and together they formed the Rubensensemble. She has also recorded violin concertos by Henri Vieuxtemps and Saint-Saëns, earning critical acclaim.
Chris Duindam
Chris Duindam started his violin study in the preparatory course at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, with Qui van Woerdekom, later at the Sweelinck Conservatory Amsterdam with Maarten Veeze. He received his UM diploma and chamber music scores with successively Philip Hirshhorn, Viktor Liberman, Eli Goren and Emmy Verhey at the Utrecht Conservatory. In addition to his solo and chamber music performances, Chris Duindam is a violin teacher at the Fontys Conservatory in Tilburg, the Utrecht Conservatory and regularly gives masterclasses at home and abroad. Since 2005 he is part of the Combattimento Consort Amsterdam.
Annemieke Corstens
(teacher Young Musician Academy)
Annemieke Corstens found success with the Dutch string trio, Boussu, which performed many concerts in the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and Austria under the inspiring coaching of Ervin Schiffer. Annemieke has a strong interest in and commitment to contemporary music. Following her formal studies, Annemieke was appointed head professor of violin at the Fontys Conservatory. Because of her initiative and passion for young violin talent, she co-founded the Young Musician Academy. She takes pride in the fact that many of her former students have found respected places on the domestic and international music scenes.
Audition
Candidates living in the Netherlands/ Belgium/ Western Germany will do a live audition.
Candidates from other countries will do an online audition.
Duration of the live audition is 15/20 minutes.
Please bring your own pianist or accompaniment. If this is really not possible, please contact us.
The audition program should include
- One etude for violin solo of your choice : Mazas, Kreutzer, Fiorillo, Rode, Wieniawski.
- A movement of a concerto or sonata of your choice
- A repertory piece (could be a mouvement from a concerto-sonata) from a different style period as 2.