In the NRC of October 11, 2024, the latest album by Martijn Padding, principal study teacher of Composition at the Royal Conservatoire, was awarded no less than five stars. The album Greatest Hits (So Far!) was praised for its “magnificent, delicately instrumented and wittily profound pieces,” performed by students of our Ensemble Academy. A fantastic recognition for both Padding and our talented students.

What makes this production extra special is that the album is the result of a close collaboration between the Ensemble Academy and the Art of Sound (AoS) Department of the Royal Conservatoire. The project began as a recording project with the goal of capturing some of Padding's concertos.

Under the guidance of teachers and in close collaboration with Martijn Padding, who was present during both the recording and post-production, AoS students carried the entire recording process. This process gave both teams the opportunity to dive deep into the musical subject matter, resulting in a professional and impressive result. The project resulted not only in beautiful performances, but also in a top-quality recording, thanks in part to AoS's musical-content involvement.

The collaboration between the various departments of the Conservatory was crucial to the success of this album. The Ensemble Academy, including (alumni) soloists, contributed substantially to the performances, while AoS ensured the high quality of the recording. This project shows how strongly departments are connected and how mutual trust and cooperation lead to wonderful results.

This five-star review celebrates not only the work of Martijn Padding, but also the expertise and dedication of all students and departments involved within the KC.