César Ramos, student of the National Master in Orchestral Conducting, received the very first Royal Conservatoire Rudi Martinus van Dijk Conductor’s Prize on 12 June. On the same day, César conducted the Residentie Orkest in a graduation concert at Amare, featuring Poulenc’s Sinfonietta and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1, with Ramon van Engelenhoven and Erwin ter Bogt as the soloist.
The concert concluded with a standing ovation, meaningful words from the examination committee, and the very first presentation of the Royal Conservatoire Rudi Martinus van Dijk Conductor’s Prize. This special award is intended to support young conductors in their first year after graduation, and is aimed to be used to attend masterclasses, acquire scores, or pursue other activities that contribute to their artistic and professional development.
The National Master in Orchestral Conducting (NMO) is a prestigious two-year master’s programme offered jointly by the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Several leading Dutch symphony orchestras actively participate in the programme, including the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the North Netherlands Orchestra, and the Residentie Orkest.
Congratulations, César!