Gramophone names Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra the World’s Best Orchestra

19 November 2008

Britain’s leading classical music magazine Gramophone has named the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra the World’s Best Orchestra. The announcement was published in its December edition (date of issue: 21 November).

The RCO received this distinction following a poll of leading music critics from all over the world.

Below is Gramophone’s list of the world’s top ten orchestras:

1. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
2. Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
3. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
4. London Symphony Orchestra
5. Chicago Symphony Orchestra
6. Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
7. Cleveland Orchestra
8. Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
9. Budapest Festival Orchestra
10. Staatskapelle Dresden

James Jolly, editor-in-chief of Gramophone, wrote that the RCO owes its leading position to the individual character of its sound, the RCO being one of the last orchestras in the world with its own special, instantly recognisable sound.

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is very pleased indeed to have been singled out for such an honour and the international recognition it brings.

We are very proud to present our new colleague in the percussion section: MARK BRAAFHART

A former student from the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music, now former member of the Rotterdam Phil. studied with Jan Pustjens, Nick Woud and Gustavo Gimeno and won the audition of the RCO unanimously.

Learn more about Mark on page 3

The Royal Concertgebouw started a try-out period for the new

ADAMS/SCHNELLAR Timpani

These instruments have been developed by Adams Timpani. Nick Woud suggested Adams to recreate an instrument that would bring the special Concertgebouw timpani sound and would also bring the comfort of the modern techniques. This try-out has proved to be extremely succesful and now will

Adams Timpani will bring 2 types of Schnellars on the market.

Copies of the original Schnellars, owned by the Concertgebouw and the more modern design [see below]

Which brings us, after 100 years, the first pedal timpani based on the famous and wonderfull Schnellar system.

More information on the Schnellar system and timpani on the

Schnellar and Amsterdam School of Timpani pages.

Ramon Lormans has won the audition for the RCO Acadamy 2008/09

Ramon is currently a Master student and assistant teacher

at the Amsterdam Conservatory. Visit his website.

In 2006 my new timpani book has been released

The release took place at the Frankfurter Messe 2006

The TIMPANI Challenge is the title. Visit page 5 fore more information and download free studies!

The RCO percussion section performing Vareses' Ameriques,

including all former members:

Gerard Schoonenberg, Niels LeLarge and Ruud van der Brink

Pictures of the 2005 RCO Festival Tour [Mahler 6th]

The Call, Nick's new brass composition was premiered by the RCO Brass in the US . Also the piece will feature on the new RCO Brass CD. Kagarice Brass Editions will publish The Call soon!

The new Adams Timpani, restyled after the famous Dresdner Apparatebau Pauken have been tested in the RCO and we found them of an excellent soundquality and playing comfort. The sound of the "old times", warm but clear and focused has been recreated in these drums. A formidable and worthy achievement of our own foremost Dutch Timpani builders.

The Concertgebouw section visited during their USA tour the Zildjian factory and were invited to become Zildjian Artists. We were very happy with the sound and quality of the new series of crash K- cymbals and had a long testing day, playing and experimenting with all the new and superb Zildjian instruments.

For all my percussion friends who are looking for an interesting position in Europe , check the following site with all major job vacancies: www.musicalchairs.info. In Holland we have another one: auditienieuws.nl