With international euphonium competitions becoming increasingly popular around the musical world, 4BR talks to Robbert Vos, the driving force behind the Fontys AMPA Euphonium Competition in Tilburg in The Netherlands.

The second edition recently took place — attracting 11 performers from six countries all keen to claim the 500 Euro first prize and an entry on their CV that could help kick start a potential solo career.

Exciting event

It proved to be an exciting event with the honours from the jury of Steven Mead, Jan van den Eijnden, and Luc Geraats going to Dutch performer Gerbrich Greidanus, who has just completed her studies in Switzerland.

The runner-up was Jurgen van de Wardt from the Netherlands who studies at the Conservatoire of Amsterdam, with third place going to the Spanish performer Elias Azzouzi Tuson, and fourth to Julian Lamar from Colombia.

Ongoing work

We speak to Robbert about the event and its appeal, as well as finding out more about his ongoing work which includes a world premiere of a solo dedicated to his young daughter by Belgian composer Kevin Houben, and a forthcoming trip to the UK to give masterclasses at the RNCM in Manchester.