Interview: Remy van Kesteren

conducted by Elizabeth Jaxon

Now that the First International Harp Festival and Competition in the Netherlands is over, the activity and excitement subsided, artistic director Remy van Kesteren reflects on the accomplishments of this first festival and on where to head next.

EJ: How do you feel the first competition/festival went? Did you manage to achieve the result that you had hoped for?

RvK: In many ways this competition & festival has exceeded expectations. The competition, to start with the main element of this week, was of a very high level. It is already a great accomplishment for a first competition to have so many harpists who applied to participate. And then to see these musicians from all over the world actually arrive here in Utrecht, play at their best and enjoy the festival week... It was a great feeling. We had amazing concerts, masterclasses and lectures, with numerous great artists. The climax of the competition, with three extremely talented musicians playing the Ginastera Concerto, was a true sensation. And I could not be more happy with our first, brilliant winner!

EJ: Do you think your ideas had the effect that you were looking for? For example, did the voting procedure eliminate any chance of dispute? Did the proportion of harpists vs non-harpists on the jury produce fair results? Did the incorporation of concerts and workshops make the week a more rewarding experience for the participants?

RvK: I think this competition/festival clearly showed that our new approach worked. And judging from the reactions we got and our own experiences, I think these changes are needed. I am very curious to see if other contests will incorporate some of our ideas.

There was no dispute during the voting procedure. All was very clear; our 18 pages of rules left no space for misinterpretation. The jury liked the fact that there was no deliberation, and they solely had to write down "yes" or "no" to pass a candidate (without a limit to the amount of "yes" votes). They were also enthousiastic about the screen, and the repertoire of the competition.

It was interesting to see and hear how consentient the jury was throughout the competition, but it is hard to tell if it was especially fair with this proportion. In any case, I think having musicians on the jury who are not familiar with the repertoire and techniques of the harp can do nothing else but focus the judging process on the music itself. And I think that is the best starting point.

For me, the best moment of the week was right after the semi-final results. I was expecting to see five very disappointed, wonderful harpists who just did not make it to the final. But instead, I saw their smiling faces, and they told me how much they were enjoying it all, looking forward to their master classes and the great concerts to come. There is always disappointment in a competition, there was no exception in ours, but the general warm atmosphere was something I had never experienced before.

EJ: Was there anything that didn't go as planned or that you wished had gone better?

RvK: There are always a lot of things that do not go as planned. For me this is always difficult to accept, but it is inevitable in such an event. We heard some complaints about the first stage repertoire, which I agree was very demanding. And also about the venue of the first stage, because it was rather small. It only seated about fifty people, which meant that many who wanted to couldn't get in. These are things we will definitely change for a next edition. And there were many other comments and suggestions we will take into consideration for the next event. Every competitor received an evaluation form, and everyone else is also still very welcome to send us their ideas (email: info@harpcompetition.nl).

EJ: From the beginning, you knew that you couldn't realistically realize all your ideas in this first festival. What is left to be done in the future, and what will need to happen to make those dreams possible?

RvK: There are many ideas that need more time, thought, and/or financial support to be realized. One of the most important things that I'd like to build up in the future is a concert agency. From our point of view, a competition should be mainly held for the purpose of the competitors. Additionally, I think a competition has a responsibility to its competitors, and to the instrument. All the hard work the competitors have put in their preparations should be rewarded properly, and in order to get the instrument to the next level in the music world, we should put a lot of effort in promoting our very best musicians to show the public the best face of the harp. I think a concert agency, which works in between competitions to help laureates build up their careers, is essential, and this definitely is the great goal that needs to be accomplished in the future. In order to do this, logically you need financial support, and you need professionals who have the experience, the time, and the will to make this happen.

EJ: Do you plan to hold a second festival in the near future? If so, how soon can we expect it to be?

RvK: We have already had talks for a second edition, and it is wonderful to see the great amount of support. At this point I cannot say to much about it yet. Obviously, it is our greatest wish to go on, improve, and grow into an important music competition. As soon as there is news, we will let you know!