With her broad palette of tone colours, her captivating stage presence and the tremendous joy she displays while playing, saxophonist Eva van Grinsven has won the hearts of both press and public. No matter what the musical setting or style may be, to Eva the story behind the notes always comes first.
About Eva
With her broad palette of tone colours, her captivating stage presence and the tremendous joy she displays while playing, saxophonist Eva van Grinsven has won the hearts of both press and public time and time again in the last few years. Her busy and multifaceted performance practice often centres around chamber music, but Eva also performs as a solo artist and with various music companies, including the Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. But no matter what the musical setting or style may be, to Eva the story behind the notes always comes first.
After having recorder- and violin-lessons, nine-year-old Eva discovered the saxophone. She was immediately fascinated by the seemingly endless possibilities that the chameleonic instrument offered, and they still inspire her to this day. In 2008, Eva graduated with honour from the Amsterdam Conservatory, where she studied with her mentor and constant source of inspiration Arno Bornkamp.
In that same year, her duo Sax & Stix won the Vriendenkrans, a prestigious prize that is awarded to promising young musicians every year by the Dutch Society for Friends of the Concertgebouw and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Many prizes and awards would follow.
Recently, Eva received both the Jury and the Public Award from the Dutch Classical Talent Award 2013 with the Berlage Saxophone Quartet.
Both Sax & Stix’s debut album and the Berlage Saxophone Quartet’s first recording received jubilant reviews from both the Dutch and the international music press.
Her passion for 1920s and 1930s saxophone music also led to performances and album recordings with the Dudok Quartet and Café Dansant.
After a successful live performance on Dutch Radio 4, she formed a new collaboration with pianist Helena Basilova. They immediately made many plans for the future, including a tour to Denmark and a concert program of French and Russian music.
Her enthusiasm to bring people and music together also led to the foundation of the Amsterdam Saxophone Orchestra. This company consists of former students of Arno Bornkamp, and performs concerts at Eva’s initiative, or by request on special occasions.
Eva is a welcome guest at festivals such as the Grachtenfestival and the Delft Chamber Music Festival, where she worked with Karin Strobos and Liza Ferschtman, among others. She has performed on all the major Dutch stages and has made concert tours to many European countries, China and Japan.
As a solo artist, Eva recently premiered Robin de Raaff’s Megumi Suite with the Doelen Ensemble. She previously gave solo performances with companies such as the Dutch National Youth Wind Orchestra and the Amstel String Ensemble.
Eva has on numerous occasions performed on Dutch Radio 4, NDR, WDR and Deutschlandfunk and has also appeared on television for Vrije Geluiden, the famous 2008 NBE New Year’s Concert and the KCO & Armin van Buuren concert in honour of King Willem-Alexander’s coronation.
Music by Monti & Farkas
Music by Shostakovich, Weill & Eisler
Participants´ concert
Public participants´ concert
Public participants´ concert
Muziek achter prikkeldraad: music by Shostakovich, Weill & Eisler
Music by J.S. Bach, C.Ph.E Bach & Marin Marais
Music by J.S. Bach, C.Ph.E Bach & Marin Marais
Music by J.S. Bach, C.Ph.E Bach & Marin Marais
Music by J.S. Bach, C.Ph.E Bach & Marin Marais
Muziek achter prikkeldraad: music by Shostakovich, Weill & Eisler
SaxoFOLK: music by Albeniz, Grieg, Ligeti, Mussorgsky & Piazzolla
Muziek achter prikkeldraad: music by Shostakovich, Weill & Eisler
Muziek achter prikkeldraad: music by Shostakovich, Weill & Eisler
Russian music by a.o. Glinka, Prokofiev & Rachmaninov
Russian music by a.o. Glinka, Prokofiev & Rachmaninov
Muziek achter prikkeldraad: music by Shostakovich, Weill & Eisler
Sinfonia - Berio
Lars Niederstrasser solo & duo with me - promotion of his solo CD
Kick-off concert of SAX14 with Ebonit Saxophone Quartet
Berlage´s Collage: music by Shostakovich, Van Keulen & Grieg
Berlage´s Collage: music by Dvorak, Van Keulen & Grieg
Berlage´s Collage: music by Shostakovich, Van Keulen & Grieg
Lars Niederstrasser solo & duo with me - promotion of his solo CD
Music from a.o. Bumcke, Jacobi, Satie & Rosenthal
Music from a.o. Bumcke, Jacobi, Satie & Rosenthal
In cooperation with Rhythm Impact: solo - & duo concert with Lars Niederstrasser
Apassionado: music by a.o. Granados, de Falla & Montsalvatge
Berlage´s Collage: music by a.o. Dvorak, Piazzolla & Grieg
Concert in serie ´Jonge Nederlanders´
Pergolesi´s Stabat Mater with soprano Sabine Wuthrich & mezzo-soprano Francine Vis
Music from a.o. Bumcke, Jacobi, Satie & Rosenthal
Apassionado: music by a.o. Granados, de Falla & Montsalvatge
TV recordings for Tiende van Tijl
SaxoFOLK: music by a.o. Grieg, Farkas, Mussorgsky & Piazzolla
SaxoFOLK: music by a.o. Grieg, Farkas, Mussorgsky & Piazzolla
Works by Stravinsky, Milhaud, Satie & Poulenc
Works by Stravinsky, Milhaud, Satie & Poulenc
Works by Stravinsky, Milhaud, Satie & Poulenc
Works by Stravinsky, Milhaud, Satie & Poulenc
Works by Stravinsky, Milhaud, Satie & Poulenc
Pergolesi´s Stabat Mater with soprano Sabine Wuthrich & mezzo-soprano Francine Vis
Pergolesi´s Stabat Mater with soprano Sabine Wuthrich & mezzo-soprano Francine Vis
Pergolesi´s Stabat Mater with soprano Sabine Wuthrich & mezzo-soprano Francine Vis
Pergolesi´s Stabat Mater with soprano Sabine Wuthrich & mezzo-soprano Francine Vis
Pergolesi´s Stabat Mater with soprano Sabine Wuthrich & mezzo-soprano Francine Vis
Russian & French music by a.o. Prokofjev, Rachmaninov & Poulenc
Sinfonia da Requiem - Benjamin Britten
Russian & French music by a.o. Prokofjev, Rachmaninov & Poulenc
Russian & French music by a.o. Prokofjev, Rachmaninov & Poulenc
Apassionado: music by a.o. Granados, de Falla & Montsalvatge
Gershwins ´Rhapsody in blue´& ´American in Paris´
Music by a.o. Shostakovich, Bach, Schulhoff & Weill
Music by a.o.Bach, Mozart, Piazzolla & Loeillet
Music by a.o.Bach, Mozart, Piazzolla & Loeillet
SaxoFOLK
´Vertical invader´- Francesconi for reed quintet & orchestra
Presentation party of our new CD Cafe Dansant!
Outdoorfestival at university campus
´Scaramouche´ by Milhaud
´Scaramouche´ by Milhaud
With Philharmonie Zuidnederland, Lavina Meijer, Hadewych Minis
With Philharmonie Zuidnederland, Lavina Meijer, Hadewych Minis
SaxoFOLK
Dauwtrappen: music from Schubert, Dvorak, Albeniz & Bach
Berlage Saxophone Quartet plays @ beautifull castle
Show with acrobats Tom & Ayla: Milhauds Le boeuf sur le toit
SaxoFOLK
SaxoFOLK
SaxoFOLK @ beautifull open air concert at the canals
SaxoFOLK @ Concertgebouw Amsterdam
SaxoFOLK
Sax & Stix and TOEAC: music by a.o. Milhaud & Poulenc
Teacher of Alcosax play solo; a.o. Bach, Firsova & Lauba
Teachers concert with pianist Santiago Baez
SaxoFOLK @ International Saxophone Masterclass Alcorisa
Berlage's collage
Show of Sax & Stix, TOEAC & acrobats Tom & Ayla
Sax & Stix and TOEAC: music by a.o. Milhaud & Poulenc
Sax & Stix, TOEAC & acrobats Tom & Ayla
Final round
Try-out cd programm; music from a.o. Shostakovich & Rachmaninov
Vrij van Geest: music by a.o. Eisler, Shostakovich & Weill
Apassionado: music by a.o. Granados, de Falla & Montsalvatge
Live tv recording @ de Hallen studio´s Amsterdam (NL)
Live broadcast on Radio 4 & Klara
Masterclass by Geert van Keulen and performance of “Chasing, Singing, Dancing”
Works by a.o. Weill, Grieg, Albeniz & Eisler
Private concert & granting of the Kersjesprijs 2015
Music from the ´20s/´30s of Paris & Berlin
Recording cd with my favourite Russian music with Helena Basilova, Maria Milstein & Lars Niederstrasser
Concert @ German cultural institut
Concert @ German cultural institut
Works by a.o. Shostakovich, Weill, Eisler & Paert
Quintet for alto saxophone & string quartet with Dudok Kwartet
Quintet for alto saxophone & string quartet with Dudok Kwartet
Apassionado: music by a.o. Granados, de Falla & Montsalvatge
Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra by Shostakovich
Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra by Shostakovich
Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra by Shostakovich
Muziek achter prikkeldraad: music by a.o. Eisler, Shostakovich & Paert
Muziek achter prikkeldraad: music by a.o. Eisler, Shostakovich & Paert
Hindemith with Daniel Kramer, ´Die Susi´with Daniel & Sabine Wuethrich and Heinichen with Lars Niederstrasser
Bach & co.
SaxoFOLK: music by a.o. Piazzolla, Grieg & Albéniz
Concert with music by Bach & co. @ houseboat Ivo Janssen
Kunst in de Kamer
Our version of this masterpiece with soloists Sabine Wuethrich & Francine Vis
Special concert with Helena Basilova & Maria Milstein
Bartok portrait with music from a.o. Bartok, Ligeti & Farkas
Playing live @ Radio 4 with Helena Basilova
Playing live @ Radio 4 with Helena Basilova & Maria Milstein
Tuin der Lusten with music by a.o. Ockeghem & Ter Veldhuis
Sax & Stix, TOEAC & acrobats Tom & Ayla: show Pas de deux
Sax & Stix and TOEAC play music by a.o. Milhaud & Poulenc
Sax & Stix, TOEAC & acrobats Tom & Ayla: show Pas de deux
´Vrij van Geest´ with works by a.o. Shostakovich, Eisler & Schulhoff
BSQ plays at festival for winds Onwings
Sax & Stix and TOEAC perform music by a.o. Milhaud & Poulenc
Music by a.o. Farkas, Barber, Weill & Dvorak
Concert @ watermill with works by a.o. Dvorak & Piazzolla
Pergolesi´s Stabat Mater with Sabine Wuethrich & Francine Vis
Florio, Schulhoff, Eisler & Dvorak
Florio, Schulhoff, Eisler & Dvorak
Florio, Schulhoff, Eisler & Dvorak
Dvorak Stringquartet no.12 (American)
Florio, Schulhoff, Eisler & Dvorak
Arrangment of Geert van Keulen with six stringplayers
The Delft Chambers: music on & around the canals
Fratres by Paert
Concert with Russian music with Helena Basilova & Maria Milstein
Schumann Piano Quintet with Sophiko Simsive & Schullhoff: Five pieces
International saxophone course organised by ZavaSax
Concert with Russian music with Helena Basilova & Maria Milstein
´Vrij van Geest´: works by a.o. Shostakovich & Schulhoff
´Vrij van Geest´: works by a.o. Shostakovich & Schulhoff
´Op weg naar de vrijheid´: music from & texts about artists who could not work in freedom
Russian music from my new cd by a.o. Prokofiev & Rachmaninov
Tenorsaxophonist in ´Alexander Nevsky´ by Prokofiev
Recording our new cd with Dabringhaus & Grimm
Music by a.o. Dvorak, Ligeti & Weill
Lunchconcert with music from Bach till Jingle bells
Larsson Concerto & Rachmaninovs Vocalise with National Youth String Orchestra
Larsson Concerto & Rachmaninovs Vocalise with National Youth String Orchestra
Larsson Concerto & Rachmaninovs Vocalise with National Youth String Orchestra
Pieces by a.o. Bach, Bartok, Glass, Marais & Mozart
Russian music from my cd by a.o. Shostakovich & Rachmaninov
Russian music from my cd by a.o. Prokofiev & Rachmaninov
SaxoFOLK with pieces by a.o. Bartok, Piazzolla & Schulhoff
Gershwins Rhapsody in Blue with Radio Filharmonisch Orkest
Russian music from my cd by a.o. Shostakovich & Rachmaninov
´Under Construction´; works by a.o. Bach, Bartok & Debussy
With Jos van der Kooy music by Bach, Martin & Prokofjev
´In search of freedom´; works by a.o. Shostakovich, Weill & Paert
After Work Concert with works by a.o. Dvorak, Weill & Eisler
´In search of freedom´; works from & texts about artists who could not work in freedom
´In search of freedom´; works from & texts about artists who could not work in freedom
Release of ´In search of freedom´ together with writer Jan Brokken
Release of ´In search of freedom´ together with writer Jan Brokken
Concert @ UdK Berlin to finish our master studies with the Artemis Quartett
Music from our new cd combined with stories of Jan Brokken
Music from our new cd by a.o. Shostakovich, Eisler & Weill
Gershwins American in Paris with Het Gelders Orkest
Gershwins American in Paris with Het Gelders Orkest
Strauss' Symphonia domestica with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Strauss' Symphonia domestica with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Strauss' Symphonia domestica with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
After a successful live debut performance on Dutch Radio 4, Eva formed a new collaboration with pianist Helena Basilova. Because they immediately felt a strong musical connection and share a love for Russian music, they have made heaps of plans together, including a tour to Denmark and a concert program and CD with Russian music from a.o. Prokofiev and Rachmaninov.
Eva´s enthusiasm to bring people and music together led to the foundation of the Amsterdam Saxophone Orchestra. This company consists of former students of Arno Bornkamp, and performs concerts at Eva’s initiative, or by request on special occasions. They worked with conductors Bas Wiegers and Kees Olthuis.
Conductor Kees Olthuis on the Amsterdam Saxophone Orchestra:
“Eva is the driving force behind the Amsterdam Saxophone Orchestra; she is a perfect organizer and an excellent instrumentalist. Moreover she chooses superb musicians, both character-wise and personality-wise it is an excellent group to work with. I have nothing but praise for this ensemble.”
For a long time now, Eva has been interested in music originally written for the saxophone in the Berlin of the twenties and thirties. In soprano Sabine Wüthrich and pianist Daniël Kramer she found the perfect ´partners in crime´ to investigate some of these works, that had remained sadly unknown.
Since 2008 they have regularly performed their programme ‘Café Dansant’ with works by Bumcke and Jacobi, amongst others.
To add some contrast, they added light French pieces from composers such as Satie and Rosenthal, who were both greatly influenced by the variety entertainment of the Moulin Rouge.
The trio played at the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam and at venues such as the Hermitage Amsterdam, Schouwburg Almere and Theater de Vest in Alkmaar. They always suprise and convince the audience with their vivacious and thrilling performance.
They recorded a CD with their repertoire, which you can order by sending an email to evavangrinsven@hotmail.com.
Reviews & interviews“Eva van Grinsven belongs to a generation of passionate and highly talented young Dutch musicians that prove that great art can be timeless top entertainment. A classical concert as a truly great experience.”
Interview with Hans Visser
Interview Sax & Stix by Thiemo Wind
Interview Sax & Stix by Paul Janssen
Interview with Paul Janssen
Review debut cd Berlage Saxophone Quartet
Review debut cd Berlage Saxophone Quartet
Review debut cd Sax & Stix
Review debut cd sax & Stix
To contact me you can:
- email me at: evavangrinsven@hotmail.com
- call me on: 0031-(0)613235579
Presskit with pictures (Copyright: Sarah Wijzenbeek)
Full &short Dutch/English biographies
Works by a.o.: L. Andriessen, Bernstein, Corea, Gershwin, Henderickx & Van Onna
You can listen to some of the pieces here:
You can order the cd “New Amsterdam” for € 20,- (incl. VAT and shipping costs)
Please send us an email with your name, adress and phone number:
saxstix@gmail.com
Works by Albeniz, Farkas, Grieg, Ligeti, Mussorgsky, Piazzolla, Pierne & Schulhoff
You can listen to fragments here:
You can order the cd “SaxoFOLK” for € 20,- (excl. VAT and shipping costs)
Please send us an email with your name, adress and phone number:
berlagesaxophonequartet@gmail.com
Quintet for alto saxophone & stringquartet by Adolf Busch &
Stringquartet no. 2 by Johannes Brahms
You can listen to fragments here:
You can order this cd for € 20,- (incl. VAT and shipping costs)
Please send me an email with your name, adress and phone number: evavangrinsven@hotmail.com
