Once again this year, the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp is awarding three special incentive prizes to students who excel in their programmes. The prizes are made possible thanks to the exceptional bequests of Denise Hersée, Simonne Papon-Schellens and the Staes-Joossens couple. Through their bequests, they continue, even after their deaths, to invest in the artistic future of new generations of musicians and performing artists.
This year’s Simone Papon-Schellens Prize goes to Hanna Peeters and Xander Kindt. The Denise Hersée Prize is awarded to Nam Ho, whilst Gardete Correia Quaresma Ferreira Afonso receives the Staes-Joossens Prize. Congratulations to all!
For the winners, the prize represents not only financial support but also significant recognition of their artistic careers.
“I am so grateful for this wonderful gift. When I received the phone call from Inge Simoens, I was completely taken by surprise. It is so rare for someone to be so generous. I will use the money wisely to realise music projects. It is often difficult to find funding for such projects. This prize gives me the freedom to experiment and develop my own artistic path.”
The incentive awards were presented for the first time last year and are intended to give promising students an extra boost as they embark on their professional careers. The funds are awarded directly to the winners, so that they can decide for themselves how to use them to further their artistic development.
These exceptional donations demonstrate how a legacy can continue to have a lasting impact well into the future. Thanks to the generosity of these benefactors, young artists are given the opportunity to further develop their talent, launch new projects and realise their artistic ambitions.
Anyone wishing to support the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp in a similar way is welcome to contact the Friends of the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp. They assist donors who wish to contribute to the future of music, dance and theatre through their wills. A bequest can be used, amongst other things, for scholarships, instruments, masterclasses or other projects that support young artistic talent.