MUSIC PIONEER AART STROOTMAN WINS GAUDEAMUS AWARD 2017

Successful 71st edition of Gaudeamus Muziekweek rounds off festival in "De Stijl" with Ballet Mécanique by Antheil

On Sunday 10 September, in TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht, the 71st edition of Gaudeamus Muziekweek was rounded off with the presentation of the Gaudeamus Award 2017. Jury member Christopher Trapani presented Aart Strootman (Netherlands 1987) with the prestigious incentive prize for young music pioneers. Aart Strootman will therefore be inducted into the hall of fame of distinguished prizewinners including prominent composers such as Peter Schat, Michel van der Aa and Louis Andriessen.

288 scores had been submitted by composers from 36 different countries. From these submissions the international jury of experts, consisting of Mayke Nas (Netherlands 1972), Joe Cutler (USA 1968) and Christopher Trapani (USA 1980), nominated five composers for the Gaudeamus Award 2017. Sky Macklay (USA 1988), Chaz Underriner (USA 1987), Ivan Vukosavljević (Serbia 1986) and Ethan Braun (USA 1987) were the other composers competing for the Award. Several compositions by each nominee were performed during Gaudeamus Muziekweek 2017, including in each case one new work  written specially for ensemble in residence Kluster5.

Jury’s report
The jury describes the winner of the Gaudeamus Award 2017 thus: 'Aart Strootman is a complete original whose sonic invention is an inspiration and who approaches composition with a remarkable freshness, reinventing the sound of each instrument within an ensemble down to the finest detail. A performer, an improviser, an inventor and a unique composer.'

Gaudeamus Award
For composers, winning the Gaudeamus Award signifies international recognition of their work, and for many of them it proves a springboard in their career. The Gaudeamus Award is an incentive prize for young composers up to the age of 30. The prize, which takes the form of a commission to compose a work for the following Gaudeamus Muziekweek, is worth €5,000. Gaudeamus Muziekweek remains closely involved with the careers of all prizewinners and nominees. The organisation arranges new composition commissions, repeat performances of works performed at the Festival and international collaboration with festivals and associated organisations worldwide.

71st edition Gaudeamus Muziekweek
During the oldest music festival in the Netherlands, we were treated to the newest works by young music pioneers. This year the Festival managed to reach a new and young audience by means of a programme devoted entirely to the latest music in all its manifestations. Programmer Martijn Buser: ‘We can look back on one of the finest editions ever, in terms of both the breadth of our programme and our success in reaching new audience. We managed to surprise our visitors with unique combinations of instruments, video, electronics, choreography and performance. For us it’s all about discovering a new sound. Totally new musical experiences which enable us to attract an ever larger audience.’

Pioneers
Young music pioneers and artists from various disciplines integrated compositions, new technologies and elements from the performing arts. Festivalgoers were surprised, for example, by the trail-blazing We cannot sleep in which, by means of virtual reality, the audience was immersed in the world of opera.

Many young music professionals and music lovers attended the extensive context programme consisting of free lectures given by composers including Heiner Goebbels and Huba de Graaff and reading sessions with the Keuris Saxophone Quartet and Ranjit Bhatnagar’s Robot Toy Piano, as well as workshops with modular synthesizers in collaboration with Sonar Traffic in Kytopia.

Senses Working Overtime
This exhibition, created in collaboration with Het Huis Utrecht and involving performative installations, drew a diverse crowd made up of students, including art students, music and theatre professionals, and a curious audience. During Tasteful Turntable participants were served twenty-four different portions of food whilst listening to a special soundtrack attuned to the taste of each dish. In total the audience could participate in eight sensory performances.

Want to know more?
The playlists and videos on the brand-new Festival website give an impression of the different sounds produced by the music pioneers of today! www.gaudeamus.nl

Marisa Tempel

Communicatie & PR, Gaudeamus

Henk Heuvelmans

Directeur, Gaudeamus

About Gaudeamus

Gaudeamus presents, stimulates and supports the latest music by young music pioneers. The concerts and activities of Gaudeamus, such as the annual Gaudeamus Muziekweek festival, international co-productions and the Gaudeamus Award, are leading the way in contemporary music. Gaudeamus scouts young talent and contributes to its professional development. For more than 70 years Gaudeamus is breaking new ground supporting music pioneers worldwide. Gaudeamus knows how to present the music of tomorrow to curious music lovers.

Contact

Loevenhoutsedijk 301 3532 XE Utrecht The Netherlands

+31(0)308200111

[email protected]

www.gaudeamus.nl