Composition teacher Calliope Tsoupaki in NRC: exploring the search for meaning in music

What does music mean to us, and where does inspiration come from? In an in-depth interview with NRC, Calliope Tsoupaki, composer and teacher in the Composition Department at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, discusses the role of faith, spirituality and personal experiences in her music.

The interview was prompted by The Hague's Dag in de Branding festival, for which Tsoupaki curated five concerts featuring her own works alongside music by composers who inspire her. During the festival, she will receive the Johan Wagenaar Prize on 16 October 2026, a prestigious lifetime achievement award presented every six years. Tsoupaki is the first woman to receive this distinction.

In the interview, Tsoupaki reflects on her Greek Orthodox upbringing and her special bond with her spiritual mentor, the Greek monk Ananias Koustenis. She also shares her thoughts on the creative process and the meaning of music. For Tsoupaki, composing is ultimately about connecting with others: ‘The purpose of composing is to get closer to other people.’

Read the full interview (in Dutch) with Calliope Tsoupaki in NRC