The American cellist and student of the KC, Kevin Downs has reached the final of the Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Competition. Kevin studies with Michel Strauss. Kevin is already an experienced cellist, he played many concerts as soloistr and chamber msuician and won prizes at competitions in the US.
With five other finalists he has been selected from 15 contestants. In the final Kevin competes against Lidy Blijdorp, cello (Conservatorium van Amsterdam), Vesna Dimcevska, piano (ArtEZ Conservatorium, Arnhem/Zwolle/Enschede), Lukas Stappenbeck, saxophone(ArtEZ Conservatorium, Arnhem/Zwolle/Enschede), and duo Peter Vigh, saxophone and Tobias Borsboom, piano (Conservatorium van Amsterdam).
The jury: "There was a lot of unexpected repertoire. It seems like the musicians consciously took side paths; they really went on an adventure. With a confdent obviousness very different composers were presented one after another. We applaud this development."
On Sunday 26 February the five finalists compete for the jury prize and audience prize in Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. The prize is a concert during the Grachtenfestival 2012, which takes place from 10 to 19 August. The winner of the jury prize will also win a music grant of € 2.000, made available by Fonds Henri Fock, managed by Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds.