Niccolò Angioni, trumpeter, composer and Royal Conservatoire alum, has won the Rogier van Otterloo Award 2026. The annual award from het Cultuurfonds supports young composers working at the intersection of classical and popular music.
Niccolò received the award on 1 August during the Jong Metropole concert at the Zwitsalhal in Apeldoorn. The award comes with €10,000 and a commission to compose a new work for Jong Metropole. His composition will be performed and recorded during the orchestra’s 2027 summer tour and, subject to the artistic and production requirements, released on Spotify.
From Florence to The Hague
Born in Italy and now based in The Hague, Niccolò works across different styles and disciplines as a trumpeter, composer, arranger and visual artist. He started playing the piano at the age of six and the trumpet at eleven. After completing his classical training in Florence, he discovered his passion for jazz and improvised music.
Niccolò continued his studies at the Royal Conservatoire, where he completed his master’s degree in jazz composition cum laude.
‘A musical voice that is personal and immediately recognisable’
The jury praised Niccolò for developing his own musical language and artistic vision through his compositions and arrangements. According to the jury report, his musical voice is distinctive, personal and immediately recognisable. The jury also highlighted his exceptional craftsmanship and thorough knowledge of instrumentation and orchestration, as well as his imaginative and engaging approach to composition.
For Niccolò, the award also connects him with two of his mentors, previous winners Tijn Wybenga and Damiano Pascarelli:
‘Receiving this award is deeply meaningful to me, especially since it means following in the footsteps of my mentors Tijn Wybenga and Damiano Pascarelli. I accept it with a real sense of responsibility to honour the orchestral jazz tradition, whilst serving as a spark for its future. My sincere gratitude to Jong Metropole and het Cultuurfonds for supporting emerging artists like me.’
About the Rogier van Otterloo Award
The Rogier van Otterloo Award is an annual award for young composers and arrangers with experience writing for larger ensembles or orchestras, made possible by het Cultuurfonds.
The award is named after arranger, conductor and composer Rogier van Otterloo (1941–1988), who was Chief Conductor of the Metropole Orkest from 1980 to 1988. He played an important role in bringing different musical worlds together. The award continues this legacy by encouraging young composers to develop their work at the intersection of classical and popular music.
Jong Metropole is a collaboration between Nationale Jeugdorkesten Nederland and the Metropole Orkest. It brings together young musicians from Dutch conservatoires and gives them the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional orchestra. Jong Metropole is supported by het Cultuurfonds and the Keep an Eye Foundation.
We are proud to see Niccolò’s work recognised with this award and warmly congratulate him on this achievement. We look forward to hearing his new composition for Jong Metropole in 2027.
