About
With concerts described by audiences as vibrant, personal and refreshing, the Van Gogh Trio is taking the Dutch stages by storm! Named after the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, the trio was founded in Amsterdam as a collaboration between dear friends and promising musicians Enzo Kok (violin), Charlotte Brussee (cello) and Maxim Heijmerink (piano). Their friendship in combination with their shared background -among which all being prize winner at the Dutch “Prinses Christina” competition- led them to play together for the first time at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. The trio soon made their debut at national television, playing live at the “Podium Witteman” show.
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Scroll further down this page for our personal bio’s and the video of our backstage interview at Podium Witteman about our journey, music and dreams (in Dutch)
Invitations for concerts across the country, among which at the acclaimed Amsterdam Grachtenfestival and on Radio4, quickly followed. Moreover, the trio was invited back to the TV show, to play at the special “Podium Witteman Masterclass”. This masterclass, taught by star violinist Isabelle van Keulen, was again broadcasted on NPO2. Furthermore, they were personally invited by master cellist Dmitry Ferschtman to participate in the internationally renowned Masterclass Apeldoorn. Since 2022, the Van Gogh Trio has been part of the NSKA (Dutch Stringquartet Academy) under supervision of Marc Danel. Last season marked among others their debut in both TivoliVredenburg Utrecht and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
Reactions:
“You can hear the sunflowers and the cherry blossoms when seeing the Van Gogh Trio play.”
“Such unprecedented talent. We’ll be hearing more about them. Such a pianist, such a trio. Incredible.”
“Van Gogh trio are dynamite!! Superb ensemble sound.”
Enzo
conscience & inspirator
Enzo Kok (2002) got his first violin lesson at the age of 6. With guidance of his teachers Ilya Grubert and Eliot Lawson he finished his bachelor studies in 2023 at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with the highest score. From October 2023, Enzo continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin with Professor Ulf Wallin. In 2018 he was finalist of the Dutch Violin Competition ‘Davina van Wely’. In 2019 he received the 1st prize during the national finals of the Prinses Christina Concours. In 2024 Enzo won the 3rd prize as well as the audience prize at the Dutch Violin Competition “Oskar Back Prijs” during the finals. Enzo gave concerts all across Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. In January 2024 Enzo made his debut with the Residentie Orchestra and conductor Jonathan Bloxham whom he played the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in TivoliVredenburg Utrecht. Enzo performed with musicians as: Daniel Rowland, Lisa Jacobs, Iris Hond, Anna Federova and members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He received masterclasses from famous musicians as: Vera Beths, Simone Lamsma, Peter Brunt, Dmitri Ferschtman, Lisa Jacobs, Daniel Rowland, Philippe Graffin, Isabelle van Keulen, Tim Kliphuis, and others. Enzo plays a violin built by J.B. Vuillaume generously in loan from André Rieu. personal website
Charlotte
sunshine & visionary
“She was born for the stage”; as such commented the jury at her final exam at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Charlotte Brussee (1999) was admitted to the Sweelinck Academy of the Conservatory of Amsterdam in 2014, as well as being principal cellist in the string ensemble “Fancy Fiddlers” of Coosje Wijzenbeek for exceptionally gifted young string players. At this conservatory she had lessons with a.o. Monique Bartels and Maarten Mostert, and most recently with Michael Stirling, with whom she completed her Bachelor studies. From season 23/24, she is continuing her (master) studies at the Hochschüle für Musik Detmold, with star cellist Xenia Jankovic. Charlotte was prizewinner at a.o. the Britten Cello Competition and the Prinses Christina Competition. In 2020 and 2021 she served as principal cellist of the Ricciotti Ensemble. At present, she is affiliated as “Young Artist” with Daniel Rowland’s international Stift Festival, and recently won the audition for cellist in rebel orchestra collective Pynarello. To her great delight, Charlotte plays with a rare Radrizzani cello from 1910, generously on loan to her by the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation. personal website
Maxim
spirit & communicator
Maxim Heijmerink (2000) is a Dutch pianist and composer who has performed in renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, TivoliVredenburg and De Doelen Rotterdam. His notable performances include winning two first prizes at the Prinses Christina Concours, the Classic Young Masters Award and the first prize at the Orbetello International Piano Competition in Italy. Collaborating with the Rotterdam Youth Orchestra (RYO), he performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in Rotterdam and Berlin. He also wrote a composition for orchestra, piano and choir which was featured in a charity initiative for an audience of 25,000 people in Ahoy. Internationally, Maxim toured the United States, Canada and Switzerland. Maxim finished his bachelor at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and is currently in his final year of the Master's program in piano at the Mannes School of Music in New York, studying under Pavlina Dokovska and Jerome Rose. He has attended masterclasses with distinguished musicians, including Nikolai Demidenko, Dmitry Bashkirov, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Jacques Rouvier, Jerome Lowenthal, and Boris Berman. personal website