Sanne performs as a harpist with the Metropole Orkest
When Sanne Bakker started studying at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle, she never imagined she would one day become a harpist with the Metropole Orkest. During her studies, she followed a path no one else was taking at the time, combining Music in Education with Classical Music. Today, she balances performing with teaching, chamber music projects and collaborations with makers from other disciplines. It was during her time in Zwolle that she discovered the value of that versatility.
A conversation that changed everything
‘At the end of my second year in Music in Education, I had a progression assessment. You perform a short programme for a panel, featuring different types of repertoire. Afterwards, the panel spent an unusually long time discussing my performance. When they finally invited me back in, they said: “We’d be sorry to see you limit yourself to Music in Education alone. We’d like to explore what else might be possible for you.”’
For Sanne, the feedback came as a surprise. The conversation eventually led her to combine Music in Education with Classical Music. ‘No one else was doing that combination at the time. Every year, I had to figure out how to make everything fit together. But that also meant I was exposed to many different sides of the profession.’
‘The field is as broad as you choose to make it.’
More than just a classical instrument
Sanne’s love for the harp began at an early age. ‘When I was a child, a harpist visited my local music school to introduce her instrument. I saw her play and immediately thought: wow. From that moment on, I wanted to play the harp.’ Choosing Zwolle was also a very deliberate decision. ‘When it comes to studying classical music, your main subject teacher is often a deciding factor. In my case, that was Manja Smits. She’s such an accomplished harpist, and I knew I could learn an incredible amount from her.’
What still appeals to her is the instrument’s versatility. ‘You can play something rhythmic, something melodic, or use it to add colour and texture. Many people think the harp is only gentle or delicate, but it can do so much more. And you can play it in so many different styles: classical music, contemporary music, jazz, pop and much more.’
She discovered that same versatility during her studies. She performed in the very first ArtEZ Pop Orchestra, took a minor in Music Theatre and collaborated with students from other disciplines. ‘The pop orchestra was the first time I played that kind of music in an orchestral setting. Looking back, that may well have planted a seed for everything that came later.’
For her graduation concert, Nachtland, she brought together harp, theatre and light art among the steel sculptures of artist Ronald Westerhuis. ‘That project really felt like a coming together of everything I enjoy.’
‘The harpist before me had been with the orchestra for more than two decades. It was the first harp audition in 25 years.’
From Zwolle to the Metropole Orkest
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Sanne continued her studies at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where she studied with harpist Sylvain Blassel. By the time she graduated with distinction, her first professional engagements were already lined up. Through Jong Metropole, she connected with the Metropole Orkest. Her first performances with the orchestra were immediately memorable: concerts with Anouk at the Ziggo Dome and the North Sea Jazz Festival.
One of her personal highlights came later during the recording of Somni, a collaboration between Snarky Puppy and the Metropole Orkest.
When the permanent harp position at the Metropole Orkest became available, she decided to audition. ‘The harpist before me had been with the orchestra for more than two decades. It was the first harp audition in 25 years.’ She spent months preparing, taking part in mock auditions, lessons and performance sessions. ‘Everything has to come together in those seven minutes of audition time.’
It paid off. From July onwards, she officially joins the Metropole Orkest as its harpist.
Finding your own path
For prospective students considering studying at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle, Sanne has a clear message: ‘The field is as broad as you choose to make it.’ At the same time, she is realistic about the challenges. ‘It remains a demanding profession. At the end of the day, you need a genuine love for music and culture if you want to keep doing this.’
According to Sanne, studying at a conservatoire is about much more than developing your skills as a musician. It is also about discovering where your interests and ambitions lie. ‘You can perform in orchestras, teach, make chamber music, work in production or education, collaborate with makers from other disciplines, or develop your own projects. In Zwolle, I was given the space to shape my own path alongside the curriculum, within the framework of the programme. That allowed me to discover which direction suited me best.’
