Lloyd Marengo, founder of Lloydscompany, presented the Next Step Award as chairman of the jury. This annual award from the VandenEnde Foundation helps exceptional artistic talent take the next step in their career. This year, saxophonist Kasper Rietkerk won the sum of €25,000 and a piece of art.

Together with fellow judges Vanessa Henneman and Robert Soomer, Marengo chose Rietkerk as the winner. Here, we're always dealing with three incredibly talented artists. Our mission is therefore very difficult. We conducted three personal interviews with the nominees. After that, we ultimately chose Kasper. He has already achieved an incredible amount and is now on the verge of securing a permanent and important place in music. The prize can really help him on his way with that step."

The director of the VandenEnde Foundation, Ronald Ockhuysen, spoke at the award ceremony about how important art is. "Our foundation awards around 40 scholarships annually – covering fields from dance and music to theatre and hip-hop. This allows us to see an incredible amount of talent. That's inspiring and gives us hope. But cuts are endangering art. That's why it's extra beautiful to see talent not being held back. Artists always find their own way. Even if it means going against the current.

The other nominees – pianist Aidan Mikdad and violist Anuschka Pedano – will each receive 5,000 euros.

KASPER RIETKERK

Rietkerk (1995) studied at the ArtEZ Conservatory in Zwolle. He earned his master's degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London. Since then, he has released several albums and EPs, including with his London sextet KRSIX and his Dutch group Das Sound Kollektiv.

VANDENENDE FOUNDATION

The VandenEnde Foundation (VDEF) is a cultural fund established in 2001 by Joop and Janine van den Ende. The fund supports cultural institutions and projects, such as Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Bonnefanten Maastricht, Méér Muziek in de Klas, Brutus Rotterdam, and Foam. The VDEF also provides scholarships to young artistic talents. Meanwhile, almost 900 young people were able to study at programs in the Netherlands and abroad with a scholarship, allowing them to further develop themselves.

The VDEF awards two prizes. The Mary Dresselhuys Prize for actors (awarded every other year) and, since 2023, the annual Next Step Award. Previous winners of the Next Step Award were director Sarah Blok and animator Madeleine Homan.