"Wholeheartedly, I would like to recommend a young and very exciting new ensemble that has appeared on our musical stages. Ensemble Orochi! It's wonderful to see a group of brilliant and enthusiastic young musicians come together and present programs at the highest level with total commitment. After the enormous cuts in the arts in recent years it is so important that a new generation of musicians still can find the energy to stand up and make themselves heard. To surprise us with new works and with new interpretations of older works awaits Ensemble Orochi!"

Jurjen Hempel , conductor

Kanako Abe conductor / music director

Kanako Abe, based in The Hague, is a renowned specialist in contemporary music. She has premiered over 180 works by world-renowned composers worldwide. She regularly receives invitations from prestigious orchestras. In July 2022, she conducted the world premiere of Bushra El-Turk's opera "Woman at Point Zero" at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, followed by performances in various opera houses in the EU, including The Royal Opera House in London .

Abe is currently Music Partner at Tokyo Ensemble Factory and Ensemble Muromachi, Artistic Director of L'Orchestre Symphonique des Dômes and Ensemble Orochi, and resident conductor of Reisorkest Arnhem.

For the full version

Kanako Abe, the artistic director and conductor.

Based in The Hague, Kanako Abe is highly acclaimed as a specialist of contemporary repertoire. She premiered more than 180 works in collaboration with worldwide renowned composers. In 2019 and 2021, she was invited by the world-famous « Toru Takemitsu Composition Award » to conduct the Tokyo Philharmonic the world premiere of 4 finalists' work under the jury composer Philippe Manoury (2019) and Pascal Dusapin (2021).In 2021 /22 season, she  was invited to conduct Orchester de Chambre de Genève at Festival l'Archipel, Orchester de la Garde Républicaine at Festival Dutilleux, and New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Festival. In July 2022, she was appointed as the conductor of the world premiere of Bushra El=Turk's opera « Woman at Point Zero » at Festival d'Aix-en-Provence. During the 2022-2023 season, she conducted this opera in many different opera houses in EU countries including The Royal Opera House in London.

Kanako Abe obtained 7 prizes at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), a diploma in composition at Tokyo University of Arts, and a Master's degree in conducting at Fontys Master of Music. Her conducting mentors are Zsolt Nagy, Fabio Luisi, Jac van Steen, and Etienne Siebens. This basic background makes her an expert on conducting contemporary music but also gives her an innovative vision of the interpretation of classical repertoires.

Kanako Abe has held the position of Music Partner since 2015 at Tokyo Ensemnable Factory and since 2019 at Ensemble Muromachi. She is currently the Music Director of L'Orchestre Symphonique des Dômes, the Artistic Director of the Ensemble Orochi, and a permanent conductor of the Reisorket Arnhem.

Her upcoming activities are, among others, the concert with the New Japan Philharmonic, the Nagoya Philharmonic, the Kobe Philharmonic, the Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo, the Orchester Pasdeloup, the Iparraldeko Orkestra, the Albanian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra, the opera production of « Faust » with Fujiwara Opera.

Kanako Abe has released eleven CDs devoted to contemporary works, she has also participated in several radio recordings, notably on Radio France.

« La nuit hallucinée », a radio opera she conducted for Radio France, won the Prix ITALIA from RAI in 2012.

Currently, she is composing a chamber opera « Neinsager » based on Brecht's script, which will be premiered under reconduction in 2025 in Yokohama.

Kanako Abe has been president of the Association Franco-Japonaise de la Musique Contemporaine since its founding in 2013.

Lotus Klinkspoor mezzo-soprano

Lotus Klinkspoor has studied both classical piano and classical singing and has received the Master of Music degree from the Fontys conservatoire with distinction for musical vision and professionalism. Her voice type is lyrical mezzo-soprano. 

Lotus specialises in music from the 20th century to contemporary repertoire. Lotus regularly gives recitals with various pianists and ensembles and has performed several world premieres by contemporary composers, some of which were composed especially for her voice.

For extended version

“Music has always been my great passion, I was singing before I could talk.”
Lotus Klinkspoor has studied both classical piano and classical voice and earned the Master of Music degree in 2020 with distinction for musical vision and professionalism. Her voice type is lyric mezzo soprano and is also often characterized as "Zwischenfach," a voice between mezzo-soprano and soprano.

Lotus studied Classical Piano at the ArtEZ conservatory with Marjès Benoist and later with Mikhail Markov. She took piano master classes with RonaldBrautigam, Galina Vracheva, Frank Peters, Marjès Benoist and Frank van der Laar, among others. 

Lotus took her Bachelor of Voice with Lodewijk Meeuwsen and Marjan Kuipers at the ArtEZ Conservatory and the Master of Music with Sinan Vural and Margriet van Reisen at the Fontys Conservatory and partly with Sebastian Vittucci, then head of the vocal department at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien during her Bachelor, she attended a minor at the Department of Music Theater at ArtEZ for two years. She took singing master classes with Margreet Honig, Jard van Nes and Claudia Visca, among others. Lotus has participated in the Peter the Great Festival in Groningen, the International Summer Academy at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and the Performing Opera summer school with Elsina Jansen and David Prins as part of the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam. She collaborated on a CD recording of Mendelssohn: Symphony no. 2 in B-flat op. 52 Lobgesang with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra and the Consensus vocalis choir conducted by Jan Willem de Vriend.

Lotus specializes in music from the 20th century to contemporary repertoire. She graduated with distinction on songs by Alban Berg, Hibiki Mukai and on Pierrot Lunaire by Arnold Schoenberg. The jury called her "exceptionally strong in modern, complex and a-tonal music. Spectacularly exact in intonation and rhythm, she performs Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire by heart." Lotus regularly performs recitals with various pianists and ensembles and has performed several world premieres by contemporary composers, Jo Sporck (7 revised songs on poems by Hans Faverey) Hibiki Mukai (Hare in the Moon and Shirayuri), the latter three of which were composed especially for her voice. In 2015, Lotus performed a full-length program in various theaters and concert halls with pianist Rik Helmes, directed by Ide van Heiningen. In 2019, she performed another music-theatrical recital with Rik Helmes, this time directed by Marc Krone. Because of her great affinity for visual art, she sang at the unveiling of the (restored) statues of Simon and Tiny Carmiggelt made by sculptor Wim Kuijl, accompanied by accordionist Gertie Bruin, broadcast by national television. In 2020, together with conductor Kanako Abe, Lotus took the initiative to establish the current Ensemble Orochi, with which she hopes to give many more special concerts and discover new compositions. 

In addition to giving concerts, Lotus gives piano and voice lessons in her studio in Amsterdam.

Rosanne van Bers  flutist

Rosanne van Bers started playing the flute at the age of 7 and moved to The Hague at 18 to study at the Royal Conservatory there. She completed her bachelor's degree with a grade of 9 under Jeroen Bron in 2020. She continued her education with a master's degree at the Conservatory of Amsterdam under Kersten McCall, Vincent Cortvrint, and Mariya Semotyuk, graduating in 2023. During her time with the Young Dutch Wind Ensemble, her love for ensemble playing intensified, and she explored ways to connect directly with the audience outside of conventional paths.

Currently, Rosanne works as a freelancer with various ensembles and orchestras and is a permanent member of neo-fanfare 9x13 and the chamber music trio FLUWEEL.

For Longer Biography

Rosanne van Bers is a Dutch flautist, based in The Hague. She finished her studies with Jeroen Bron at the Royal Conservatory The Hague in 2020, graduating with a 9. Rosanne continued her studies with Kersten McCall, Vincent Cortvrint and Mariya Semotyuk at the Conservatory of Amsterdam where she obtained her Master of Music degree. During this master, Rosanne was part of the Creative Performance Lab programme in which she deepened her knowledge about creating and performing multidisciplinary performances. Her love for ensemble-playing intensified during her time in the jong Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (jongNBE). Rosanne followed masterclasses with a.o. Emily Beynon, William Bennett, Mario Caroli en Silvia Careddu. Graduated in 2023, Rosanne currently works as a freelancer for various orchestras and ensembles. Rosanne is part of Neo-fanfare 9x13 and her own chamber music ensemble FLUWEEL.

Guillermo Arnedo Frias  clarinetist

Guillermo Arnedo Frias is a Spanish clarinetist who studied at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón in Zaragoza and received further training from renowned clarinetists. He has performed with the Jove Orquestra InterComarcal, and a contemporary ensemble led by Nacho de Paz. Guillermo has won first prize at the International Band Festival of Lleida and third prize at the World Music Contest of Kerkrade.
He earned his master's degree at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, studying with Annelien van Wauwe, Olivier Patey, Davide Lattuada, Erik van Deuren, and Jasper Grijpink, and continued his studies as a contract student with Rick Huls. Guillermo has performed with professional orchestras in the Netherlands, including the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, Nederlands Kamerorkest, Residentie Orkest, Holland Symfonie Orkest and Dordrecht Kamerorkest as clarinettist and bass clarinettist.

For Longer Biography

Guillermo Arnedo Frias is a Spanish clarinettist, he studied the bachelor at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón - Zaragoza with Francisco Antonio García and Ona Cardona. During the bachelor, he received lessons from clarinetists such as Romain Guyot, Andreas Sunden, Antonio Salguero and Joan Enric Lluna among others.

He has entered the rosters of the Joven Orquesta de Euskal Herria and has played with others such as the Jove Orquestra InterComarcal as first clarinet, as well as participating for four years in the contemporary ensemble conducted by Nacho de Paz as clarinettist, bass clarinettist and contrabass clarinettist.

He has also won first prize at the International Band Festival of Lleida and third prize at the World Music Contest of Kerkrade as principal clarinet of the band.

He studied his master's degree at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague with Annelien van Wauwe as his main teacher, as well as taking orchestral excerpts lessons with Olivier Patey, bass clarinet lessons with Davide Lattuada and Erik van Deuren, Eb clarinet lessons with Jasper Grijpink. He also continued his studies by doing a contract student at the same school with Rick Huls.

He has performed with professional orchestras in the Netherlands such as the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, Nederlands Kamerorkest, Residentie Orkest, Holand Symfonie Orkest and Dordrecht Kamerorkest among others, as clarinettist and bass clarinettist.

İdil Yunkuş violinist

The Turkish violinist İdil Yunkuş began her musical journey at the age of five, alongside her father. In Turkey, she developed her skills through masterclasses with prominent artists and built a successful career with both ensemble and solo performances. In 2018, she moved to the Netherlands to study with Ilya Grubert and Theodora Geraets, eventually completing her bachelor's degree with honors under Janet Krause at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Currently, İdil is pursuing her master's degree while actively performing with Ciconia Consort, Eudora Quartet, Kali Quartets, Abo Trio and Ensemble Orochi.

For Longer Biography

The Turkish violinist İdil Yunkuş started her music education at the age of five with her father, Selahattin Yunkuş. The young musician’s first steps into her career took place at the Mersin University State Conservatory with Lily Tchumburidze. In 2017, she moved to Istanbul to study with Prof. Çiğdem İyicil. Afterward, Yunkuş moved to the Netherlands to first study with Ilya Grubert at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, then with Theodora Geraets at the Koninklijke Conservatorium The Hague. In June 2023, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Upon her graduation, she got awarded with the Awards Klassiek by the Keep an Eye on Foundation.

Throughout the years, Yunkuş actively participated in the masterclasses of Cihat Aşkın, Anna Schnarch, Schlomo Mintz, Alexander Kagan, Mikhail Gotsdiner, Dora Schwarzberg, and Stephan Jackiw. Between the years 2014 and 2022, she became a member of DÇSO(Doğuş Children’s Symphony Orchestra and TUGFO(Turkish National Youth Philarmonic Orchestra), where she had the opportunity to lead as the concertmaster and developed a great passion for orchestra playing. Last winter, Yunkuş was chosen to be the leader of the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands in the Winter Tour 2023.

At a young age, she performed as a soloist with several national orchestras, including the Başkent Chamber Orchestra, Mersin State and Operas Symphony, Mersin University Youth Orchestra, KODA(Karşıyaka Chamber Orchestra), and CRR(Cemal Resit Rey Symphony Orchestra) with the works of Sarasate, Mendelssohn, Vieuxtemps, and Beriot.

Since 2020, Yunkuş has been actively playing with Kali Quartet and Ensemble Orochi. In the season of 2022-2023, she became a member of Ciconia Consort and Eudora Quartet.She recently won the Runner-Up prize at the 22nd edition of Grachtenfestival Conservatorium Concours. As well as continuing to focus mainly on her chamber music and solo career, she continues her master’s at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague with Janet Krause as a music scholar of Dr. Nejat Eczacıbaşı Foundation. 

She is currently playing with 1800 made Johannes Cuypers on loan to her from NMF (National Musical Instruments Fund Foundation).

Kardelen Buruk violist

Kardelen Buruk started playing the violin at the age of 8 and switched to viola at the age of 12. She earned her bachelor's degree at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in 2018 under Asdis Valdimorsdottir. In June 2020, she completed her master's degree with distinction, scoring 9.5 under the guidance of Mikhail Zemtsov.

Buruk is currently a freelance musician with Ciconia Consort, Libero Ensemble, Eudora Quartet, Ensemble Orochi, and FLUWEEL Ensemble both domestically and internationally. She is the first violinist and orchestra leader of ReisOrkest Arnhem. She plays on a modern instrument made by Andrew Finnigan and Pia Klaembt and a bow by Andreas Grütter, on loan from NMF (Dutch National Musical Instruments Fund).

For Longer Biography

The Turkish violist Kardelen Buruk began playing the violin at the age of 8 and switched to viola at the age of 12. She collaborated with such illustrious artists as Valery Gergiev, Jac van Steen, Nobuko Imai, Gilles Apap, Gilad Karni, Mikhail Kugel, Garth Knox and many others.

She completed her bachelor's degree at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in 2018 with Asdis Valdimorsdottir with a minor in Education. In June 2020, she completed her master's degree with Mikhail Zemtsov and received a 9.5 with distinction for her professional attitude and perseverance.

At the International Viola Congress 2018, she premiered her original music theater production "Moonwalk" at Hofplein Theater, Rotterdam. With her viola duo Black Büyü, she won first prize at Grote Kamermuziekprijs in 2019. She was selected for The Global Leaders Program as one of their cohort members in 2019, for which she traveled extensively throughout Chile and Jamaica to increase access and impact of music in disadvantaged communities. Kardelen Buruk founded an initiative called "Music Bridge where she performs and organizes concerts for disadvantaged communities and she has been presenting concerts for the Turkish Community in The Hague since May 2019.

Kardelen Buruk is currently a freelance musician performing with ensembles and orchestras such as Metropole Orkest, Kamerata Zuid, Ciconia Consort, Libero Ensemble, Eudora Quartet, Ensemble Orochi and Ensemble Fluweel in the Netherlands and abroad. In addition to performing, Kardelen also works as a freelance producer at institutions such as Codarts, De Nieuwe Regentes and NJO (National Youth Orchestra). Kardelen is the principal viola and orchestra manager of ReisOrkest Arnhem. She plays on a modern instrument made by Andrew Finnigan and Pia Klaembt and bow by Andreas Grütter on loan from NMF (Stichting Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds Nederland).

Beste Yıldız cellist

The Turkish cellist Beste Yıldız (2001) began his musical journey at the age of 9 under Viatcheslav Kainov. In 2019, he started his bachelor's degree at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where he graduated with honors under the guidance of Larissa Groeneveld in June 2023. In addition to participating in masterclasses and competitions, Beste is recognized for his solo recitals at prestigious festivals .

Beste was principal cello in well-known youth orchestras, such as the Netherlands National Youth Orchestra (NJO) and the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (TUGFO), besides to participating in masterclasses and competitions.

Young cellist committing to grow into a chamber musician with current ensembles Kali Quartet, Abo Trio, and Ensemble Orochi.

For Longer Biography

Beste Yıldız was born in Adana in 2001. He took his first steps in his career at the age of 9 with Viatcheslav Kainov at the Çukurova University State Conservatory. After successfully continuing his education, he got accepted to Larissa Groeneveld's class at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands following his high school graduation in 2019, and he completed his bachelor's degree in June 2023 with distinction.

In the past decade, seeking opportunities to further enhance his skills, the young musician had the chance to work with Marie Kliegel, Giovanni Sollima, Kyril Zlotnikov, Joachim Eijlander, Umberto Glerici, Harro Ruijsenaars, Zlatomir Fung, Roger Regster, Sietse-Jan Weijenberg, Çağ Erçağ, Nil Kocamangil, Dilbağ Tokay, and Fazıl Say.

In 2013, he was awarded the first prize at the International Belgrade Music Competition. In 2018, he became a regular member of the Doğuş Children's Symphony Orchestra (DÇSO) and gained his first experiences as a principal cellist within a year. From 2019 to 2022, as a member of the Turkish National Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (TUGFO), the talented artist had the privilege of performing in many countries. In 2021 and 2022, he performed as the cello section leader in prestigious venues with TUGFO.

In 2023, he shared the stage throughout the country with Wouter Vossen as the principal cellist of the Netherlands National Youth Orchestra. In 2023 and 2024, during the Delft Chamber Music Festival, one of the leading festivals in the Netherlands, he had the opportunity to perform solo and chamber music concerts, and during the Festival Dag in de Branding, he performed the solo cello piece "Gone in No Time" by composer Myrto Nizami.

Since 2021, he has continued his collaborations with chamber music ensembles such as Kali Ensemble, Abo Trio, and Ensemble Orochi.

In September 2023, he was awarded the "Excellence Scholarship" and continues his master's degree at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Larissa Groeneveld as a music scholar of the Dr. Nejat Eczacıbaşı Foundation.

İrem Yunkuş pianist

İrem Yunkuş was born in 1994 in Istanbul. During her studies in Turkey, she studied with Can Çoker and Misha Dacic. In 2020, she moved to the Netherlands to pursue her master's degree with Katia Veekmans, which she successfully completed last June.

Throughout the years, she has performed as a soloist with national youth orchestras and formed ensembles that won competitions. Additionally, she has built a career as an accompanist and piano teacher in secondary education.

Yunkuş currently plays with her ensembles Abo Trio, Ensemble Orochi and continues to give concerts both nationally and internationally.

For Longer Biography

The Turkish pianist İrem Yunkuş started her piano education with Ayan Kömür and Marina Cincaradze at Mersin University State Conservatory. From 2004, she continued her studies with Can Çoker for the following ten years and graduated with Miroslav Dacic. From very young age she performed in various events both inside and outside the school. Yunkuş actively participated in the masterclasses of Toros Can, Emre Elivar, Gökhan Aybulus, Gülsin Onay, Özgür Aydın, Muhiddin Dürrüoğlu, Kamerhan Turan, Martin Berkovsky, Daniel Gortler, Stephen Gutman and Tamara Atschba.

In 2009, she performed J.S.Bach f minor Piano Concerto with Eskişehir Anatolian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Murat Göktaş, and in 2017 she played S.Rachmaninoff 1. Piano Concerto with Mersin University State Conservatory Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Orhan Şallıel.

In 2007, she attended in Pera Piano Competition in Istanbul and won honorable mention. In 2011, she won honorable mention with Bengisu Gökçe and Serçin Yatkın in the Edirne Mimar Sinan Rotary International Chamber Music Competition, in 2017 she got the second prize in the same competition with İdil Yunkuş and Pirsu Kesici. In 2016, she participated in Mersin AKOB Chamber Music Competition and won the first prize with Burçak Özkan and Başak Gürbüz. Then in 2017, with İdil Yunkuş and Pirsu Kesici they had third prize and second prize with Selin Ece Yüksel and Eren Çam in 2018 in the same competition.
Yunkuş worked as an accompanist and secondary piano teacher at Mersin University State Conservatory from 2017 January to 2020 August.
In November 2022, she played the world premiere of Orhan Şallıel’s Piano Concerto conducted by Orhan Şallıel with Çukurova State Symphony Orchestra.

In 2020, Yunkuş moved to the Netherlands for her master's degree and graduated with distinction from Prof. Katia Veekmans' class in 2023.
She is currently playing with her ensembles, Ensemble Orochi and ABO Trio.

"Young, talented musicians of the ensemble OROCHI are looking for new ways to allow the public to discover a varied repertoire, a repertoire that reflects the unlimited creativity of human history. I am convinced that the ensemble OROCHI has a bright artistic future, so to contribute to the renewal and development of our culture. I wish Kanako and her ensemble much success!"

Arie van Beek , conductor of De Doelen Ensemble