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Eva van Grinsven | Saxophonist

eva van grinsven / saxophonist

WELCOME

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

UPCOMING CONCERTS

Upcoming Events

ARCHIVE
ALL CONCERTS

stay in touch

FOLLOW EVA
ON FACEBOOK

ENSEMBLES & PROJECTS

Berlage Saxophone Quartet
Berlage Saxophone Quartet
Eva van Grinsven and Helena Basilova
with Helena Basilova
Sax and Stix
Sax & Stix

"Eva 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."

Haarlems Dagblad

reviews & interviews

Teaching

Since 2016 I am teaching the classical saxophone with passion and dedication in the beautiful historical city of Maastricht. I love to share my experience and knowledge of (chamber)music and the saxophone with my students.

My goal is to get the most and the best out of my students, and to look for their individual identity as a player…

read more

albums

Rendez vous Russe Eva CD
Rendez-vous Russe
Cafe Dansant CD
Café Dansant

CONTACT ME

E: evavangrinsven@hotmail.com
T: 0031-(0)613235579

Presskit with pictures (© Sarah Wijzenbeek)
Full & short Dutch/English biographies

download presskit
Megumi Suite
Megumi Suite
New Amsterdam
quintett
Bach Goldberg Variationen Berlage Saxophone Quartet CD
Goldberg variations
all albums

VIDEO

Martin Ballade
Podium Witteman
Internationaal Kamermuziek Festival 2020
© 2024 Eva van Grinsven · Photography: Sarah Wijzenbeek · Design: Jop Quirindongo · Development: Roos van Druenen

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.

DOWNLOAD BIOGRAPHY

concert archive

Concert archive from 11-2017.

Past Events

26
Aug
26
Aug
-
26
Aug

“Feier/Fire” Muziek op de Binnendieze

26-08-2023 20:00 - 26-08-2023
Den Bosch
16
Apr
16
Apr
-
16
Apr

‘Heimwee’ @ Willem twee Toonzaal, Den Bosch

16-04-2023 11:00 - 16-04-2023
Willem Twee Toonzaal, Den Bosch
24
Mar
24
Mar
-
24
Mar

‘Heimwee’ @ Middelburg

24-03-2023 20:00 - 24-03-2023
Middelburg
19
Mar
19
Mar
-
19
Mar

‘Heimwee’ @ Theater Vereensmederij, Amersfoort

19-03-2023 15:00 - 19-03-2023
Theater Vereensmederij, Amersfoort
12
Mar
12
Mar
-
12
Mar

‘Roots’ @ Cultureel Centrum de Man, Oostvoorne

12-03-2023 11:30 - 12-03-2023
Cultureel Centrum de Man, Oostvoorne
09
Mar
09
Mar
-
09
Mar

‘Heimwee’ @ Concertzaal Oosterbeek

09-03-2023 20:00 - 09-03-2023
Concertzaal Oosterbeek
28
Feb
28
Feb
-
28
Feb

‘Heimwee’ @ De Oosterpoort, Groningen

28-02-2023 20:15 - 28-02-2023
De Oosterpoort, Groningen
19
Feb
19
Feb
-
19
Feb

‘Frauen, Liebe & Leben’ @ Uithoorn

19-02-2023 14:00 - 19-02-2023
De Schutse Uithoorn (Stichting SCAU)
18
Feb
18
Feb
-
18
Feb

‘New Light on Goldberg’ @ FestiVita!, Brussels (BE)

18-02-2023 22:30 - 18-02-2023
Brussel
09
Feb
09
Feb
-
09
Feb

‘Heimwee’ @ Muziekgebouw Amsterdam (PREMIÈRE)

09-02-2023 20:15 - 09-02-2023
Muziekgebouw Amsterdam
29
Jan
29
Jan
-
29
Jan

‘New Light on Goldberg’ @ Muziekgebouw Eindhoven

29-01-2023 12:00 - 29-01-2023
Muziekgebouw Eindhoven
19
Jan
19
Jan
-
22
Jan

“Acts of Citizenship” @ Amsterdam

19-01-2023 14:00 - 22-01-2023
Bellevue Amsterdam
11
Jan
11
Jan
-
11
Jan

“Acts of Citizenship” @ Den Haag

11-01-2023 14:00 - 11-01-2023
Theater aan t Spui Den Haag
30
Nov
30
Nov
-
30
Nov

“Acts of Citizenship” @ Utrecht

30-11-2022 14:00 - 30-11-2022
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
24
Nov
24
Nov
-
27
Nov

“Acts of Citizenship” @ LUX Nijmegen

24-11-2022 14:00 - 27-11-2022
LUX Nijmegen
23
Oct
23
Oct
-
23
Oct

‘Frauen, Liebe & Leben’ @ Eijsden

23-10-2022 14:00 - 23-10-2022
Ursulinenconvent Eijsden (Festival Vocallis)
14
Oct
14
Oct
-
14
Oct

“Acts of Citizenship” @ Goudse Schouwburg

14-10-2022 14:00 - 14-10-2022
Goudse Schouwburg
09
Oct
09
Oct
-
09
Oct

‘Ballade’ van Frank Martin @ Arnhem

09-10-2022 14:00 - 09-10-2022
Musis Arnhem
07
Oct
07
Oct
-
07
Oct

‘Ballade’ van Frank Martin @ Enschede

07-10-2022 14:00 - 07-10-2022
Muziekcentrum Enschede
25
Sep
25
Sep
-
25
Sep

“Acts of Citizenship” @ Amersfoort

25-09-2022 14:00 - 25-09-2022
September me Festival Amersfoort
22
Sep
22
Sep
-
24
Sep

“Acts of Citizenship” @ Toneelschuur Haarlem

22-09-2022 14:00 - 24-09-2022
Toneelschuur Haarlem
26
Aug
26
Aug
-
26
Aug

“Dance with me” @ LUDWIG & Barbara Hannigan

26-08-2022 20:15 - 26-08-2022
Onderzeebootloods Rotterdam
23
Aug
23
Aug
-
23
Aug

“Geloof, hoop & liefde” @ Voorschoten

23-08-2022 14:00 - 23-08-2022
Kasteel Duivenvoorde Voorschoten
19
Aug
19
Aug
-
19
Aug

“Geloof, hoop & liefde” @ Summerwinds Festival

19-08-2022 14:00 - 19-08-2022
Evangelische Kirche Ladbergen (D)
10
Jun
10
Jun
-
19
Jun

“Acts of Citizenship” @ Oerol Festival, Terschelling

10-06-2022 14:00 - 19-06-2022
Oerol Festival, Terschelling
14
May
14
May
-
14
May

“De rechtvaardigen” @ Breda

14-05-2022 14:00 - 14-05-2022
Chassé Theater Breda
13
May
13
May
-
13
May

“De rechtvaardigen” @ Nijmegen

13-05-2022 14:00 - 13-05-2022
de Vereeniging Nijmegen
08
May
08
May
-
08
May

“De rechtvaardigen” @ Middelburg

08-05-2022 14:00 - 08-05-2022
Zeeuwse Concertzaal Middelburg
07
May
07
May
-
07
May

“De rechtvaardigen” @ Alkmaar

07-05-2022 14:00 - 07-05-2022
Grote Kerk Alkmaar
05
May
05
May
-
05
May

“De rechtvaardigen” @ ‘t IJ

05-05-2022 14:00 - 05-05-2022
Muziekgebouw aan´t IJ
04
May
04
May
-
04
May

“De rechtvaardigen” @ Den Haag

04-05-2022 14:00 - 04-05-2022
Nieuwe Kerk Den Haag
10
Apr
10
Apr
-
10
Apr

‘New Light on Goldberg’ @ Detmold (D)

10-04-2022 14:00 - 10-04-2022
Kirche Detmold (D)
09
Apr
09
Apr
-
09
Apr

‘New Light on Goldberg’ @ Deventer

09-04-2022 14:00 - 09-04-2022
Lebuïnuskerk Deventer
07
Apr
07
Apr
-
07
Apr

‘New Light on Goldberg’ @ Kortenhoef

07-04-2022 14:00 - 07-04-2022
Kunst aan de Dijk, Kortenhoef
03
Apr
03
Apr
-
03
Apr

‘New Light on Goldberg’ @ Oisterwijk

03-04-2022 14:00 - 03-04-2022
Tiliander Oisterwijk
27
Mar
27
Mar
-
27
Mar

‘New Light on Goldberg’ @ Heerhugowaard

27-03-2022 14:00 - 27-03-2022
Theater Cool Heerhugowaard
13
Mar
13
Mar
-
26
Mar

Das Floß der medusa

13-03-2018 20:00 - 26-03-2018 23:00
Nationale Opera & Ballet Amsterdam
25
Feb
25
Feb
-
25
Feb

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ het Jagthuis

25-02-2018 15:30 - 25-02-2018 23:00
het Jagthuis Nederhorst den Berg (NL)
18
Feb
18
Feb
-
18
Feb

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ Wilhelminaoord

18-02-2018 15:00 - 18-02-2018 23:00
Koloniekerkje Wilhelminaoord (NL)
16
Feb
16
Feb
-
16
Feb

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ Aduard

16-02-2018 20:15 - 16-02-2018 23:00
Abdijkerk Aduard (NL)
11
Feb
11
Feb
-
11
Feb

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ Hoorn

11-02-2018 11:30 - 11-02-2018 23:00
Schouwburg Het Park Hoorn (NL)
10
Feb
10
Feb
-
10
Feb

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ Heemstede

10-02-2018 20:15 - 10-02-2018 23:00
Oude kerk Heemstede (NL)
02
Feb
02
Feb
-
02
Feb

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ Breda

02-02-2018 20:15 - 02-02-2018 23:00
De Nieuwe Veste Breda (NL)
27
Jan
27
Jan
-
27
Jan

Open day @ Conservatorium Maastricht

27-01-2018 14:30 - 27-01-2018 19:00
Conservatorium Maastricht (NL)
12
Jan
12
Jan
-
14
Jan

Moussorgsky @ Het Gelders Orkest

12-01-2018 19:30 - 14-01-2018 23:00
Musis Sacrum Arnhem (NL)
16
Dec
16
Dec
-
16
Dec

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ Kunstkring Hattem

16-12-2017 20:15 - 16-12-2017 23:00
de Marke Hattem (NL)
15
Dec
15
Dec
-
15
Dec

´Breaking the silence´@ Boxmeer

15-12-2017 20:15 - 15-12-2017 23:00
De Weijer Boxmeer (NL)
14
Dec
14
Dec
-
14
Dec

´Breaking the silence´@ Den Bosch

14-12-2017 20:30 - 14-12-2017 23:00
Verkadefabriek Den Bosch (NL)
13
Dec
13
Dec
-
13
Dec

´Breaking the silence´@Drachten

13-12-2017 20:30 - 13-12-2017 23:00
Theater de Lawei Drachten (NL)
07
Dec
07
Dec
-
09
Dec

´Breaking the silence´@ Amsterdam

07-12-2017 20:30 - 09-12-2017 23:00
Theater Bellevue Amsterdam (NL)
04
Dec
04
Dec
-
04
Dec

´Breaking the silence´@ Enschede

04-12-2017 12:30 - 04-12-2017 23:00
Concordia Enschede (NL)
30
Nov
30
Nov
-
30
Nov

´Breaking the silence´@ Utrecht

30-11-2017 20:30 - 30-11-2017 23:00
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht (NL)
25
Nov
25
Nov
-
25
Nov

´Breaking the silence´@ Almelo

25-11-2017 20:15 - 25-11-2017 23:00
Theater Hof 88 Almelo (NL)
23
Nov
23
Nov
-
23
Nov

´Breaking the silence´@ Amstelveen

23-11-2017 20:30 - 23-11-2017 23:00
Schouwburg Amstelveen (NL)
21
Nov
21
Nov
-
21
Nov

´Breaking the silence´@ Den Haag

21-11-2017 20:15 - 21-11-2017 23:00
Theater aan het Spui Den Haag (NL)
19
Nov
19
Nov
-
19
Nov

Saxophonequartet workshop Berlage Saxophone Quartet

19-11-2017 10:00 - 19-11-2017 17:00
Burchtpoort 5, Vleuten (NL)
18
Nov
18
Nov
-
18
Nov

´Breaking the silence´@ Gouda

18-11-2017 20:30 - 18-11-2017 23:00
De Goudse Schouwburg (NL)
17
Nov
17
Nov
-
17
Nov

´Breaking the silence´@ Amersfoort

17-11-2017 20:30 - 17-11-2017 23:00
Theater De Lieve Vrouw (NL)
16
Nov
16
Nov
-
16
Nov

´Breaking the silence´@ Nijmegen

16-11-2017 20:30 - 16-11-2017 23:00
LUX Nijmegen (NL)
13
Nov
13
Nov
-
13
Nov

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ de Oosterpoort

13-11-2017 20:15 - 13-11-2017 23:00
de Oosterpoort Groningen (NL)
12
Nov
12
Nov
-
12
Nov

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ Muziekkamer Assen

12-11-2017 12:00 - 12-11-2017 23:00
Podium Zuidhaege Assen (NL)
05
Nov
05
Nov
-
05
Nov

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Jan Brokken @ Museum de Buitenplaats

05-11-2017 14:00 - 05-11-2017 23:00
Museum de Buitenplaats Eelde (NL)
04
Nov
04
Nov
-
04
Nov

Berlage Saxophone Quartet & Dudok Kwartet @ Noorderkerkconcerten

04-11-2017 14:00 - 04-11-2017 23:00
Noorderkerk Amsterdam (NL)
13
Jul
13
Jul
-
17
Jul

“Acts of Citizenship” @ Over het IJ Festival, Amsterdam

13-07-2022 - 17-07-2022 14:00
Over het IJ Festival, Amsterdam

upcoming concerts

Upcoming Events

WITH HELENA BASILOVA

piano-saxophone duo

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.

Sax & Stix

with Ramon Lormans

From 2002 to 2017, the two young, adventurous musicians Eva van Grinsven and Ramon Lormans explored the unprecedented possibilities of the unique combination of saxophone and percussion, with, besides to works written especially for them, also own arrangements that represent a multitude of musical styles. Sax & Stix was a welcome guest at the important festivals and chamber music stages in the Netherlands (including Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Vredenburg and Het Concertgebouw) and played in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and in Paris.

In addition, their enthusiastic and expressive interplay was rewarded with De Grachtenfestivalprijs 2012, the jury and audience award at Het Internationaal Kamermuziekconcours Almere 2007 and the 1st prize at the Vriendenkransconcours of Het Concertgebouw 2008.

DOWNLOAD REPERTOIRE
Sax and Stix at Vrije Geluiden VPRO
vpro - vrije geluiden
Sax and Stix live at Het Concertgebouw
Live at het concertgebouw

adams magazine #46

02/2021 - Interview - "Eva van Grinsven doet niets op halve kracht"

Read the interview.

de volkskrant

12/02/2014 - Review debut CD Berlage Saxophone Quartet

Read review online.

de telegraaf

08/03/2014 - Review debut CD Berlage Saxophone Quartet

Read review online.

de telegraaf

03/08/2013 - Review debut Sax & Stix

Read review online.

my approach as a teacher

Since 2016 I am teaching the classical saxophone with passion and dedication in the beautiful historical city of Maastricht. I love to share my experience and knowledge of (chamber)music and the saxophone with my students. My goal is to get the most and the best out of my students, and to look for their individual identity as a player.

Quality and craftsmanship are very important to me as a starting point for my lessons. I think that controlling the instrument is indispensable to be able to fulfill all (later) artistic wishes.

Learn the basics

In the first individual lessons I initially focus on the craftsmanship and the ‘basics’ (breathing, posture, embouchure, tongue position, etc.) by means of many etudes and scales. By doing this, I also immediately learn new students a healthy way of studying: how to study most effectively and with full (body) awareness. I teach students to simplify difficult passages by teaching them to recognize the ‘musical skeleton’.

Of course I also work on performance pieces and on how to make your own interpretation, taking the chosen style/period into account. To ensure that the students get to know the broadest possible repertoire and associated aesthetics during their bachelor’s degree, I choose the repertoire from various ‘categories’ as agreed with the student.

Perform

I plan a student concert every 6-7 weeks, so that students always have a clear goal when rehearsing new work and actually perform the studied work in front of an audience. In my lessons I first focus on internalizing the music and switch quite quickly to testing and sharpening their own interpretation.

There is a group lesson every week with me and the co-teacher so that I can put the student’s interpretation in the context of the whole and work on intonation. After that, we prepare the work for performance by going ‘from details to the whole’ .

Set goals

I use the student concerts to teach the students how you can achieve your ‘end goal’ and how you plan ‘from back to front’ how this goal can be achieved. The group lessons also serve as measuring points to plan achievable ‘interim goals’.

In the group lessons, chamber music in other instrumentations than with piano is also discussed, because I think that students can learn a lot from the process of making a joint interpretation with their fellow students and coaching them in this, also in rehearsal ways and communication.

Present yourself

I also coach this by occasionally make the students give feedback on each other’s performance, both within the group lesson and as a result of the student concert (joint video analysis), so that they learn to form a clear opinion and to be able to communicate it clearly to the other. I also do this to make them aware of the effect of their choice of words, so that in a rehearsal or as a teacher they will hopefully choose their formulations more consciously and develop appropriate vocabulary for this.

Students also give a lecture once a year on a self-chosen theme, related to the saxophone or the professional field as a musician. In my opinion, being able to present and articulate yourself adequately are indispensable qualities for the musician of the twenty-first century, as is entrepreneurship.

Get inspired

I like to organize events to give students an impression of their potential future field of work and to inspire them. This results, among other things, in interesting collaborative projects that transcend disciplines, both with other instrument groups and the composition class. I also organize masterclasses by renowned (international) saxophonists, including through the Erasmus programme, as in the past with Arno Bornkamp, Javier Alloza, Daniel Gauthier and Gordan Tudor.

CD Rendez-vous russe

This album received an Echo Klassik 2017, a prestigious German cd award, in the category Chambermusic windinstruments

You can listen to a fragment 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.

CD Café dansant

There are unique pieces for soprano, saxophone and piano on this CD. We were the first to record the Cantata by Wolfgang Jacobi and the Drei Lieder by Gustav Bumcke.

Sabine Wüthrich, sopraan
Eva van Grinsven, saxofoon
Daniël Kramer, piano

You can listen to a fragment 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.

CD Megumi suite

Doelen Ensemble
Arie van Beek – conductor
Marieke Franssen – flute
Eva van Grinsven – saxophone
Maarten van Veen – conductor

You can listen to a fragment 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.

NEW AMSTERDAM

Sax&Stix

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

CD Eva van Grinsven & Dudok Kwartet

Quintet for alto saxophone & stringquartet by Adolf Busch & Stringquartet no. 2 by Johannes Brahms.

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.

Bach Goldberg Variations

Berlage Saxophone Quartet

Bach’s Masterpiece the Goldberg Variations in a version for 10 saxophones arranged and played by the Berlage Saxophone Quartet. Super Audio CD recording by MDG.

You can listen to a fragment here.

You can order the CD for € 20,- (excl. VAT and shipping costs).

Please send us an email with your name, address and phone number:
berlagesaxophonequartet@gmail.com.

All albums

Dance With Me
Dance with me (2022)
Bach Goldberg Variationen Berlage Saxophone Quartet CD
Goldberg variations (2021)
La Passione
La Passione (2020)
In search of freedom
In Search of freedom (2017)
Rendez vous Russe Eva CD
Rendez-vous russe (2016)
Cafe Dansant CD
Café dansant (2015)
Megumi Suite
Megumi suite (2014)
Saxofolk CD
Saxofolk (2014)
New amsterdam (2013)
Quintett (2012)

Saxofolk

Berlage Saxophone Quartet

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.