Rogier van Otterloo Award

Most talented

The Rogier van Otterloo Award is presented every summer by Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. The winner of this award receives € 5000 and will be invited to write a composition for Jong Metropole in the spirit of Rogier van Otterloo, the late Dutch legendary composer and former chief conductor of the Metropole Orkest. The composition will be performed by Jong Metropole during its next Summer Tour. The Rogier van Otterloo Award encourages the most talented young composer / arranger / conductor / orchestra leader living in the Netherlands to continue his or her own development in the area between classical and pop music.

Potential candidates for this award are being scouted through a broad network of teachers, artistic leaders, programmers, et cetera. An expert jury will then assess the arrangements, compositions and videos sent in by young (maximum 35 years old) contestants and preselect the final candidates. The artistic leadership of Jong Metropole decides upon the final winner.

Winner in 2021

Saxophonist, composer and bandleader Kika Sprangers received the Rogier van Otterloo Award on Sunday 8 August 2021 from Cathelijne Broers of the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds and from Freek and Hella de Jonge, who made the award possible this year. Kika received the award during the last concert of Jong Metropole's summer tour at Teuge air base.
With her velvety sound, sparkling musical language and compelling compositions, Kika Sprangers (1994) is one of the most compelling musicians in our country. Kika lets her musical story reach the listener through emotional and honest playing, according to the jury report.


From left to right: Cathelijne Broers(Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds), Hella de Jonge, Kika Sprangers and Freek de Jonge. Photo: Pieter Kunnen

Former winners

2019: Damiano Pascarelli
2018: Tijn Wybenga
2017: Jesse Passenier
2016: Zacharias S. Falkenberg

Rogier van Otterloo

Rogier van Otterloo (1941-1988) left his unique mark on popular music in The Netherlands in the 1970s and 1980s. He did so as arranger, conductor and composer for countless albums, projects, television programmes and from 1980 to 1988 as chief conductor of the Metropole Orkest.

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