Firiël is organizing a complete world music festival as her final project
Becoming a Storyteller
"I used to be very shy and admired those who stood on stage. Watching them tell their story through music, dance, or theatre in the spotlight was incredibly impressive to me. As a spectator, experiencing a story delivered with such bravado, whether big or small, is thrilling. I realised as a young girl that it creates a connection: laughing, dancing, and sharing something beautiful together. From the age of seven, I went to Ireland every summer to attend a summer school where I made music with people from all over the world. During the day, we made music in classes, which we then performed in the local pub in the evenings. This was how I took my first steps on stage, experiencing what it’s like to make music together. I also discovered that even if you don't speak the same language, you can learn to understand each other through making music or art together. I knew then that I wanted to become a storyteller myself, and that music would be my way of connecting."
Studying at ArtEZ
"During secondary school, I started the preparatory course at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem. At that time, I couldn't decide between Jazz & Pop or Classical Music, as I found everything interesting. When it came time to enrol in a bachelor's programme, I chose Classical Music in Zwolle, which is the course I'm hoping to complete soon. Now that I can look back a little, I can say that I've learned an enormous amount. During my main subject lessons with Carola Ligt, I gained a lot of technical knowledge, but I've especially developed tremendously as a person, artist, and performer. I owe this latter growth to all my fellow students here at the conservatorium, as well as the stage presentation lessons from Mart Blom."
World Music
"Despite my Classical Music studies, I've always had a wide-ranging interest in different music styles. Fortunately, my studies allowed ample space to explore these interests. For example, I've played with an Iranian pianist and learned about the music from her culture. I also have my own trio, where we play Irish music. What I discovered through this is that no matter how diverse the origins of the music are, there is a sort of equal foundation, a universal language. This became especially clear to me when I conducted a workshop at an asylum seekers' centre. I spent a week making music with the residents, who come from all over the world and each bring their own stories. Although we didn't speak each other's languages at first, making music together fostered mutual understanding and connection. If there is one thing the world needs, it is connection. I realised that this is the small yet significant contribution I can make to society. That's when the idea of organising a world music festival came to me."
Graduation Project: Earthmusic Festival
"One of the components of graduating in Classical Music is organising your own final project. The most common form is a concert, but I saw this as the perfect opportunity to bring my festival idea to life. It’s an ambitious undertaking because it involves much more than just arranging and performing. I am the programmer, marketer, arranger of my own pieces, and I am also working on a dance performance. The residents of the asylum seekers' centre will also perform, and I am guiding them in this. The festival, which I’ve named Earthmusic Festival, embodies exactly what it is: music with backgrounds from many different cultures. I am delighted to bring these people together and realise my ambition of connecting people through music."
Future
"Once my festival and final exams are over, a new phase will begin for me. At the moment, I am exploring the possibility of continuing with a master's degree in Classical Music. A master's programme offers space for research and innovation within the field, and I am looking forward to that. Until then, I warmly invite everyone to visit the Earthmusic Festival at Co Creatief in Zwolle. Tickets are available via this link."
More information about the bachelor's course Classic Music
