Nikolaas Kende, pianist (photocredit-Marco Borggreve)
Nikolaas Kendewas born into a family of musicians in 1981. At the age of 5 he started to study piano with his parents, Heidi Hendrickx and Levente Kende. Between 1999 and 2005 he studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory with prof. Jan Wijn, and at the Royal Antwerp conservatory where he also studied organ with prof. Joris Verdin. He continued his studies at the “Hochschule für Musik und Theater München” with Elisso Wirssaladze and received his “Meisterklasse-Diplom” in 2007. He received lessons and advice from artists like D.Bashkirov, A.Ciccolini, D.Alexeev, M.Perahia and Radu Lupu.
At a young age he began winning piano competitions and in 2002 he became laureate of the “Belgian foundation for young soloists.” He continues to receive honors, prizes, and recognition for his musicality and skill.
Nikolaas often gives concerts in famous halls and festivals across Europe. In 2009 he made a critically acclaimed debut in America, performing as a soloist with orchestra in Texas and giving recitals in California. In 2010 he toured the Netherlands, and in 2011, performed in France, Spain, Romania,and the Dutch Antilles.
Jolente De Maeyer, violinist
Jolente De Maeyer was born in 1984 in Brussels, Belgium. At the age of four she received her first violin lessons from Johan Lommelen and she also started learning the piano. When she was 14 years old, Jolente was invited by Yehudi Menuhin to pursue her musical studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School near London. She continued her studies with Natasha Boyarsky at the Royal Music Chapel in London and with Stephan Picard at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin where she received Konzertdiplom. Currently she studies with Augustin Dumay at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium.
At the age of 6, Jolente started competing, and became the youngest ever laureate of the Jong Tenuto Competition and also received First Prizes in the Charles de Bériot Competition Brussels. Later on Jolente became a prizewinner in several international competitions.
Jolente performed as a soloist with with numerous orchestras, working with various conductors, includg Philippe Herreweghe, Patrick Davin, Etienne Siebens, Silveer Van den Broeck, Dirk Brossé, James Stobart, Michel Tilkin, Stefaan Fraas, Alexander Chernushenko and Rudolf Werthen. She performs regularly in halls and festivals across Belgium, and also in Russia, France, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, The Netherlands, Spain, as well as in London’s Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall and at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival in Switzerland.
In 2010 Jolente was appointed violin teacher at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp.
Jolente is also passionate about chamber music. In 2003, she and pianist Nikolaas Kende began performing as a duo, and together they formed the Rubensensemble in 2007.
The Kende – De Mayer Duo will present a Sunday afternoon concert.
April 14, 2010, 3 PM
Uptown Blanco Ballroom
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