Dutch harpist Remy van Kesteren is one of two performing artists to receive this year’s Gieskes-Strijbis Podium Prize, alongside Amsterdam-based theater director, writer, and actor Carolina Bianchi. “I’m truly honored to receive the Podiumprijs 2025—it means a great deal to me,” van Kesteren says. “This award feels like not only a recognition of my work as a harpist and composer, but [an incentive] to keep pushing the boundaries of what the harp can be and sound like. The generosity of this prize offers real freedom to continue exploring new artistic directions and collaborations, and I’m deeply grateful for that.”
The Gieskes-Strijbis Podium Prize is a leading performing arts prize in the Netherlands. Each year, the Podium Prize honors two mid-career artists who contribute to the quality and diversity of the Dutch performing arts, including theater, dance, music, composition, and musical theater. Each of the two winners receives €60,000, which they may spend at their own discretion to further their artistic development.
The nominees for the Podium Prize 2025 were selected by the Advisory Committee, chaired by Tido Visser, artistic director of the Netherlands Chamber Choir. Alongside Visser, the committee consists of Rajiv Bhagwanbali, artistic director of the Rotterdam Street Culture Week; Floor Houwink ten Cate, director, writer, and member of the artistic core of Theater Utrecht; and Igone de Jongh, dancer.
Check out our cover interview with van Kesteren in the January-February 2012 issue of Harp Column to find out how his innovative approach to the harp led him to create the World Harp Competition. Learn more on his website.
