NEWS
24 June 2024
Meet the classical composition students of Conservatorium Maastricht. What drives the young composers who create the music of tomorrow? On this page, you will discover their biographies, stories, projects and musical inspirations.
Asja Kadić
composer and flutist.
Bosnian composer and flutist, currently in her final year of bachelor in composition under the guidance of Vykintas Baltakas. A storyteller in her writing, taking you to different narratives with dramaturgy, filled with devotion to exploration of different colors, harmonies and timbres.
Ethan Blackburn
composer of contemporary music, focused mostly on chamber and orchestral ensembles.
A central theme to his composition is color and the perception of time through it. In the pieces, a variety of instrumental colors in composition act as a structural element rather than just a side-note to the form and content. A core tenet to his compositional methodology is the love of the creation and organization of said sounds, and finding the many variable and inexorably beautiful different relationships between them.
Hon Ning Cheung
Composer and chromatic harmonicist.
Hon Ning Cheung (1998-) is a composer and chromatic harmonicist. Finishing her bachelor study at Conservatorium Maastricht under the guidance of Vykintas Baltakas, she is currently doing master in composition at Hochschule Luzern with the guidance of Dieter Ammann. She took conducting lessons from Federico Santi, whom she considers as an very important mentor from the beginning of her music study. Since 2019 she learned chromatic harmonica guided by Shing Hei Leung, later she was inspired to expand harmonica’s repertoires through exploring its timbral possibilities, different instrumental combinations, and collaborating actively with living composers. Founder and composer of Nefelibata New Music Collective, a group of musicians at Conservatorium Maastricht devoting to creating concert projects inspired by humans, nature, and life. Hon Ning has premiered music by Oswald Huỳnh, Kyohei Sugihara, Riccardo Perugini, Mario Pallas, Andy Janssen, Tai Nakamura, and Ethan Blackburn. Passionate about uncertainty and fragility in musical creations, Hon Ning loves to explore different art forms while being exposed in multi-dimensions as a musician, to continue searching her way of expression.
Mario Calzada
Composer, arranger, music producer, and drummer.
Music has been his passion since he can remember, and he has been fortunate enough to turn that passion into a thriving career.
His journey so far has included incredible opportunities to share his music and insights at prestigious venues around the world. Invitations have taken him to the Syddansk Conservatorium in Odense, Denmark, the Conservatorio “Luca Marenzio” in Brescia, Italy, and even Stanford University in Madrid, Spain. Each experience has enriched his musical journey with new perspectives.
Currently, he is diving deep into a Master in Classical Composition and Conducting at the Conservatorium Maastricht in The Netherlands. When he's not studying or playing the drums, he teaches Critical Listening at the same conservatorium, enjoying the perfect blend of learning and sharing knowledge.
As a proud member of several musical platforms and serving as the president of ANUC, the "Association for a New Culture" in Spain, his role allows him to connect with fellow artists and promote new cultural initiatives.
Want to see more? Then visit his Instagram @mariocalzada28. Get in touch? Email Mario via: Mariocalzadamusic@gmail.com
Mario's CV
Contemporary classical compositions
Improvised contemporary music
Composing and Drumming
