Pianists Aidan Mikdad (2001) and Ramon van Engelenhoven (1995) have been selected, after auditions, to perform Poulenc’s Concerto for two pianos. This performance is part of the programme ‘Rituelen’ (Rituals) which the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra will perform in April 2018 under the baton of Matthew Rowe.

Exceptionally gifted musicians, Aidan and Ramon already have won numerous prestigious prizes. Aidan is winner of the Concertgebouw Young Talent Award and the Italian Premio Internazionale Pianistico ‘A. Scriabin’ in the category ‘pianists up to 35 years of age, the then fourteen-year-old being by far the youngest contestant in the competition. Ramon van Engelenhoven won first prize at the YPF Piano Competition 2015. He was also the very first finalist to be awarded the ‘Grand Prix Youri Egorov’, which is only awarded to finalists who show potential to have an international career.

Aidan studied at the Sweelinck Academy, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam’s national study programme for exceptionally gifted children, and now studies with Mila Baslawskaja in the first year of the bachelor’s degree programme. Ramon graduated from the bachelor’s degree programme at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2017. He now studies with Frank Peters in the first year of the master’s degree programme.

Rituelen
Conservatorium van Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra conducted by Matthew Rowe, soloists:Aidan Mikdad en Ramon van Engelenhoven, piano
Charles Ives - Decoration Day (second movement from Symphony no. 5); Francis Poulenc - Concerto or two pianos and orchestra; Igor Stravinsky - Le sacre du printemps; Silvia Lanao, Bas van Yperen and Carlo Díaz  - Suite (2018, world premiere)

Fri 20 April
20.15h Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ
tickets: www.muziekgebouw.nl

Sat 21 April
21.00h Muziekcentrum Eindhoven
short programme with only Stravinsky and Poulenc
toegang en reserveren: www.muziekgebouweindhoven.nl

Sun 22 April
15.00h Tivoli/Vredenburg Utrecht
tickets: www.tivolivredenburg.nl