String ensemble： Fancy Fiddlers
String ensemble the Fancy Fiddlers consists of young talented violinists and cellists in ages ranging from 6 to 19 years old.
The driving force behind this unique group is the renowned Dutch violin pedagogue Coosje Wijzenbeek. The young violinists weekly attend their one-on-one lessons at her home in Hilversum. Every Saturday they rehearse together with cellists from different cello teachers at the Amsterdam Conservatory. It is there that they intensively study chamber music pieces in all kinds of different line ups. Together the young musicians are called the “Fancy Fiddlers”.
The ensemble and name came to be in 1984. In that year an exchange was organised between the Netherlands and Hungary. Since then the Fancy Fiddlers have been performing frequently at all kinds of happenings, and on a wide variety of stages, amongst them the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, TivoliVredenburg, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, as well as on stages in Europe and even in China. During their concerts, the Fancy Fiddlers perform programmes varying from solo pieces to pieces for string orchestra, and in all other possible chamber music combinations. These concert programmes are aimed at having the young musical talents gain as much stage experience as possible.
From the Fancy Fiddlers many soloists (such as Janine Jansen) and ensembles have originated, who have found their way to the international stages.
The revenues from the performances, together with donations from the Friends of the Fancy Fiddlers, grants and sponsor contributions, are spent on courses and masterclasses both at home and abroad. Extra education to enable these young people to develop their talent to its full potential amongst a large, international group of other talented musicians.