Andre has been a professional trumpet player since 1990 and from 1997 a soloist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, which is known for special concerts in the world’s most beautiful concert halls. Andre is a former member of the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, which is known to the wider public from the New Year’s concerts that are broadcast on television by the VARA every year. His mantra is “Holding space for change”. Andre connects people through music. His trumpet is only the means to his mantra. His message is simple: “What qualities within yourself can you always rely on, what is your trumpet?” Andre is a performer, inspirator, creative advisor and innovator. He is also a keynote speaker in which connection, resilience, passion and perseverance are key words to move, connect and inspire.
Andre Heuvelman
TRUMPET
Wilmar de Visser
DOUBLE BASS
Wilmar plays subdued Sephardic music in a candle-lit Portuguese synagogue just as passionately and sentimentally as treating an exuberant audience to Prince covers in a large music halls. For double bassist Wilmar de Visser (1972) there are no musical boundaries: anything is possible.
After his studies, Wilmar has become one of the most versatile bass players in the Netherlands. Together with Sonja van Beek, he is the founder and artistic director of EnsembleCaméléon, an ensemble of young top musicians that focuses on the performances of larger masterpieces from the chamber music literature. Besides his work as bass player with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, he is also one of the initiators of Splendor, a modern music center in Amsterdam. “We wanted a place where, as a musician, you have the space to practice. But also a place where encounters between musicians and visitors are possible.”
De Visser and his special double bass, built by the English violin maker Bernard Simon Fendt in 1825, have been regular faces of the Netherlands Wind Ensemble for years.
Henry Kelder
PIANO
Henry Kelder works as a pianist, composer, conductor, chamber musician, improviser, repetiteur, cultural entrepreneur and teacher.
He is considered one of the country’s most versatile Dutch musicians, because of his field of work and because he has mastered many styles. Many composers wrote pieces for him.
In 2011 Henry founded MatchingArts, an innovative company, based in Amersfoort, for the exposition of performing arts in the broadest sense of the word.
In 2019 he became a partner with SkyCulture in China, with which many international projects have been realised, including 24 Concerts with over 10 million viewers.
Since 2010 Henry has been working as the main subject teacher of classical piano at the HKU Utrecht Conservatory. He annually tours the United States and China giving both concerts and master classes.
During the lockdowns, caused by the Corona Crisis, he performed and recorded piano works for social media almost daily, which earned him a lot of international publicity.