The history of Masterclass Apeldoorn

History of the Apeldoorn Masterclass.

The International Masterclass Apeldoorn Foundation was established in 1990 by producer Annette Brattinga - Aeneae Venema. Renowned musicians, cellist Colin Carr and pianists Gérard van Blerk (†) and Pascal Devoyon, formed the foundation upon which the Masterclass was built until 1997. Students from across the globe came to Apeldoorn to attend lessons given by the founders and their musical colleagues. The students stayed with hospitable Apeldoorn families, initially friends of the organisers, later expanding into a growing network of hosts who generously opened their homes to provide accommodation and study spaces.

From 1998 onwards, the number of instructors and the variety of instruments increased. Well-known names from that period devoted their time and expertise to the Masterclass students, including Christiaan Bor, Naum Grubert, Michael Müller, and Bart Schneeman, figures widely celebrated in the world of music. Dutch broadcast “Young People on the Music Stage” featured the Masterclass.

It became a tradition during the masterclass week to organise several concerts, with final concerts held in the former ballroom of Palace Het Loo.

In 1999, violinist Philippe Graffin, who remains a prominent instructor to this day, joined the group of masters. The foundation began to focus more externally, establishing connections with young music students from Cape Town, collaborating with the Amsterdam Grachtenfestival, and forming an association with Young Composers.

In its early years, the Apeldoorn Theatre Orpheus was made available free of charge to the Masterclass during summer. However, as the Masterclass grew, the need for subsidies and funds became unavoidable. The Municipality of Apeldoorn, along with approximately ten other funds, including the Prins Bernhard Fund and the Cultural Fund, enabled growth and the organisation of additional activities that expanded the Masterclass’s possibilities. Thus, the idea arose to hold concerts at unique locations, such as the Kröller-Müller Museum and the Radio Kootwijk building. Audience numbers also grew, necessitating extra organisation and costs.

In 2001, clarinetist Charles Neidich, still a highly esteemed instructor, joined the group. Charles is an absolute world-class performer and a highly sought-after teacher. His participation introduced new repertoire possibilities.

Many dedicated volunteers, mostly from Apeldoorn, made the Masterclass viable and helped it grow into a well-established cultural institution. Early masters, such as Colin Carr, Philippe Graffin, and Charles Neidich, alongside Apeldoorn musicians and music enthusiasts, ensured continuity and quality. Special mention must be made of our honorary members: founder Annette Brattinga and key advisor/former board member Mimi Koppenol-Paskova.

In 2020, the global coronavirus pandemic struck, resulting in the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 editions. The 2022 Masterclass took place under challenging circumstances. Although protective measures had been scaled back, caution remained paramount, and audiences largely stayed away.

At the explicit request of our subsidy provider, the Municipality of Apeldoorn, small concerts were still organised in care homes, the town hall, a school, and various cultural venues.

After the pandemic, a new board cautiously restarted the initiative in 2023 with a violin-only Masterclass, accompanied by innovative measures aimed at making the Masterclass more inclusive and accessible to a broader audience in Apeldoorn.

Masterclass 2024 saw a return to full capacity (five masters, 30 students), but also introduced opportunities for all ages (Festival “Classical Meets Apeldoorn Artists”), programmes for Apeldoorn primary schools, and provided sponsorships for exceptionally young talents, enabling them to participate in lessons. Our students continue to come from all corners of the world, including regions affected by conflict and war, consistently demonstrating that music unites young people and offers a pathway to creating a more harmonious world.

This year, the November period was chosen for the event at the express request of the masters and students. As a result, we could no longer use Theatre Orpheus, which is fully booked during the theatre season, and sought alternative venues. Students and masters were accommodated together at a single location: StayOkay Apeldoorn.