Going through old programmes recently, I came across the programme for my violin final exam at the Rotterdam Conservatory in November 1991.
One work on the programme immediately brought back a vivid memory: Fratres by Arvo Pärt.
I had heard the piece on the radio shortly before my exam and was immediately fascinated by it. Today, Fratres is one of Pärt’s best-known works, but in 1991 it was still unfamiliar to many musicians. Although it had been composed in 1980, it certainly wasn’t a standard choice for a conservatory examination.
I remember telling my violin teacher, Václav Novák, that I wanted to include it in my exam programme. He was rather sceptical at first. A contemporary piece for such an important examination was not an obvious choice. But as we worked on it together, he began to appreciate the piece as much as I did, and in the end he fully supported the idea.
Looking at the programme now, another detail catches my eye. The cover was drawn by my mother. She enjoyed drawing and designing, and I had almost forgotten that she had made this little illustration for my exam. It is a small reminder that music and creativity were always present at home, each in their own way.
The programme itself reflected the journey I was making as a young violinist: Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Brahms, ending with the quiet, timeless sound world of Arvo Pärt. Looking back, it was perhaps an early sign that I was always drawn to music that explored new colours and new ways of expression.