Sandro Nebieridze, a pianist and composer, began his musical journey at the age of five at the Z. Paliashvili Central Music School in Tbilisi. He furthered his studies at the Tbilisi State Conservatory and is currently advancing his piano skills at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich and the Accademia di Imola under […]
Paul Salard (France) began studying the piano at the age of 10. Two years later he entered the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Nice, where he studied with Amédée Briggen. In June 2023, after only four years of study, he obtained the Diplôme d’Études Musicales (DEM). He has participated in masterclasses with Marie-Josèphe Jude, Hortense
Illia Fialko comes from a highly musical Ukrainian family. From 2007 to 2018, he studied at the Lysenko Music School in Kyiv with the renowned teacher Borys Fedorov. Illia is a laureate of numerous international competitions and has given many concerts in Ukraine and across Europe. From 2018 to 2025 he studied at the Conservatory
Ana Bakradze was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, and began playing the piano at the age of six at the Tbilisi Art School. She continued her education at the Zakaria Paliashvili Central Music School in Tbilisi in 2014. In 2018 she graduated from high school with a gold medal as the best student of the year.
Alberto Ferro was born in Italy in 1996 and achieved his Master’s degree with Professor Epifanio Comis at the Bellini Conservatoire in Catania. He won many prizes in international competitions, including first prize at the Beethoven Competition in Bonn (2017), second prize at the Busoni Competition in Bolzano (2015) and sixth prize at the Queen
The Belgian pianist Julien Libeer (b. 1987) is internationally acclaimed for his profound musical approach, expressive interpretations and lucid intellectual vision. His playing combines technical clarity with refined sensitivity, inviting audiences to rediscover the repertoire of Bach, Mozart, Ravel and many others time and again. At the age of four Julien saw Bernstein conduct his
Eran Heymann (21) was born and raised in Voorburg. He studied with pianist Uzi Heymann until he was eighteen. In addition to private lessons, he was part of The International Center for Ensembles from 2014 to 2022, where he took weekly chamber music lessons. He is currently in the third year of his bachelor’s degree
Kateryna Pavlenko, born in Ukraine, began piano lessons at the age of five at the Art School No. 3 in Kharkiv, where she studied from 2010 to 2018. At the age of thirteen, she continued her education at the Kharkiv Specialized Music School for talented children. After graduating at the age of sixteen, she entered
Lisa Angelia Tanto, a pianist born in Surabaya, Indonesia (2000) just finished her Master in Classical Piano Performance in HKU Conservatorium Utrecht in 2024 and was selected for the Emir Steyerberg Prijs in 2022. She performed in TivoliVredenburg Utrecht, Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Theater Orpheus Apeldoorn and Huize Gaudeamus solo and also together with her chamber
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Born in Strumica, Macedonia, in 2006, Ivana Maznejkova’s musical journey began at home, where her parents, both piano teachers, introduced her to the piano at a young age. By age three, she was already performing publicly in her hometown, and her dedication only grew from there. Ivana completed her early training at the State Musical
As a little girl I walked with my mother in Naarden Vesting, on the way to the Turfpoortstraat, on the way to my grandmother. I can’t remember much about my visit to grandma, but what I still remember clearly are the high sidewalks and the buildings! The Spanish House, the Andreas Church! The former church building that was built by the Robert F.W. Bruinsma foundation was converted into a concert hall. How did that happen?
In my youth I listened to the St Matthew Passion many times in the Grote Kerk in Naarden. My parents were both organizationally involved in these beautiful performances by the Netherlands Bach Society. At that time, the seeds were sown for my development in and love for music. After my childhood and schooling, my husband and I have done a lot of work abroad and have lived in France for 25 years. The music then came into the background a bit, but it never really left my head. My husband passed away in 2005.
During that period I started organizing piano concerts on our estate in France. It was a success! And it gave me the energy and the idea to take up that also in the Netherlands after I sold the estate. To ensure that everything runs smoothly, the Robert F.W. Bruinsma set up. The main objective of our foundation is to support young musicians, especially piano students, on their way to their future.
The Andreaskerk in the Turfpoortstraat in Naarden Vesting has been purchased with the aim of creating a home base for the activities of our foundation. After three years of renovation, we have transformed the former church into a small-scale concert hall. In the initial phase of the renovation I met the pianist Nino Gvetadze. She was introduced to me by Jan Wijn, a well-known piano pedagogue in the Netherlands. Nino and I had a few conversations and it soon became clear that we are on the same page regarding thoughts about music and youth. So Nino presented her plan to me. An idea to bring young top talent from the piano master’s program at the conservatories into contact with people who are important for their development on the way to their career. And this was the starting signal for the ‘Naarden International Piano Festival’. We are both very proud that it has come to this.
You have a dream but you have to dare to stick your neck out to make it come true. Persevere, don’t hesitate, go after your goal!
Music connects people!
We hope to connect students with master pianists!
With a small team of employees, we are doing our best to put this festival on the map for the future.
We hope to offer you as an audience a few days of beautiful music!
Hankie Bruinsma Verbrugh (December 14, 1946 – October 23, 2023)
Co-founder of the Naarden International Piano Festival
Founder and former chairman of the Robert F.W. Bruinsma Foundation
I was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, country of beautiful landscapes and rich musical traditions.
Even though non of my family members were professional musicians, I discovered piano from an early age. I loved composing little Waltzes and by the time when I was 5, I could already present a modest recital at the entrance exam of the Tbilisi Music School. Since that moment I have been blessed with the most inspiring teachers and possibilities to learn and develop, therefore, despite the turbulent years in my homeland, my first musical steps were full of interesting experiences.
For my Master’s degree I moved to the Netherlands and soon made my second home in Amsterdam, magical city, that charmed me from the first sight. During my studies I was honoured to have won the National Piano Competition (YPF) and later became a laureate of the Franz Liszt Piano Competition followed by the prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Award. These awards opened many doors to the concert halls all around the world.
I love playing solo recitals, where I can tell a personal story, as well as piano concertos and chamber music: to be inspired and communicate with other musicians is an incredible experience.
Making an album is always a magical moment, that’s probably where I become most demanding and honest. With every record I have been telling the stories, that are in a certain way connected to the certain stage of my life.
A few years ago I co-founded a piano festival in Naarden, that became a meeting point for pianists of different generations. I also lead the Delft Chamber Music Festival, where we celebrate the beauty of music and tell interesting stories annually, together with wonderful musicians.
I enjoy teaching my students at the Rotterdam Conservatory and giving master classes as well as listening as a Jury member to the young talented pianists at the International Competitions.
Being on stage and filling the room with a golden tone of a grand piano – that’s what I love the most in my profession, those moments when we get a chance to stop the time in the concert halls and communicate with our audience through the sound of music.
Hope to see you all in Naarden!
Nino Gvetadze
Pianist / Co-founder and Artistic Director of the Naarden International Piano Festival
