22 May 2022
In the Verkadefabriek in 's-Hertogenbosch, Conservatorium Maastricht student Peter Willems (jazz double bass and vocal student) won the coveted Conservatorium Talent Award on Sunday evening. This prize consists of € 5,000 to spend on talent development and a performance during the upcoming edition of Jazz in Duketown.
Conservatorium Talent Award (CTA) is a unique musical jazz event that literally and figuratively offers up-and-coming talent in various disciplines: from vocals to guitar and from trombone to double bass. The best students from seven Dutch conservatories competed this year for the Conservatorium Talent Award 2022.
During the programme, each finalist played a set (with at least a self-written composition) with their own band. A jury of experts judged the talents on playing technique, improvisation, persuasiveness, creativity and presentation. In the evening the candidates performed with the famous Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, after which the prizes were awarded. Of the seven finalists, Peter Willems received the most votes. The jury, consisting of Aad van Nieuwkerk, Tom Trapp, Guy van Hulst, Mischa Andriessen and Deborah J. Carter, praised Peter Willems for his playing: “The jury was enthusiastic about the creativity and authenticity of this candidate, the different instrumentations and the dynamic approach to the occupation," said jury chairman Aad van Nieuwkerk.
The Conservatorium Talent Award is part of Jazz in Duketown and is supported by the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Noord-Brabant. With the finalists and members of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, the Cultuurfonds also organizes workshops for young musicians in various regions of Brabant.
