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[et_pb_section fb_built="1" custom_padding_last_edited="on|phone" _builder_version="4.16" background_color="#000000" min_height="2701.8px" custom_margin="-87px|||||" custom_margin_tablet="" custom_margin_phone="0px||||false|false" custom_margin_last_edited="on|phone" custom_padding="1px||0px|0px|false|false" custom_padding_tablet="" custom_padding_phone="0px||||false|false" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" min_height="544.6px" custom_margin="80px|auto||auto|false|false" custom_margin_tablet="80px|auto||auto|false|false" custom_margin_phone="40px||||false|false" custom_margin_last_edited="on|phone" custom_padding="16px|||0px||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://www.lloydscompany.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lloyd-Marengo-met-Kasper-Rietkerk-winnaar-van-Next-Step-Award-1-e1750939802413.jpeg" title_text="Lloyd Marengo met Kasper Rietkerk winnaar van Next Step Award" align="center" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" width="76%" width_tablet="76%" width_phone="100%" width_last_edited="on|phone" max_width="76%" max_width_tablet="76%" max_width_phone="100%" max_width_last_edited="on|phone" custom_margin="||||false|false" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title="Lloyd Marengo presents Next Step Award as jury chairman VandenEnde Foundation" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" title_text_align="center" title_text_color="#FFFFFF" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" custom_margin="-36px|auto||auto||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" min_height="278px" custom_margin="||-7px|||" global_colors_info="{}"]<p style="text-align: center;">Lloyd Marengo, founder of Lloydscompany, presented the Next Step Award as jury chairman. This annual award from the VandenEnde Foundation helps exceptional artistic talent take the next step in his/her/its career. This year, saxophonist Kasper Rietkerk won the sum of €25,000 and a work of art.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Along with other judges Vanessa Henneman and Robert Soomer, Marengo chose Rietkerk as the winner. "Here we are always dealing with three incredibly talented artists. Our assignment is therefore very difficult. We had three personal interviews with the nominees. Then we finally chose Kasper. He has already achieved an incredible amount and is now on the verge of definitively conquering an important place in music. The award can help him considerably in that step."</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"></p>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://www.lloydscompany.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lloyd-Marengo-met-jury-Next-Step-Award-en-winnaar-Kasper-Rietkerk-e1750940422753.jpeg" title_text="Lloyd Marengo met jury Next Step Award en winnaar Kasper Rietkerk" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]<p style="text-align: center;">The director of the VandenEnde Foundation, Ronald Ockhuysen, told the ceremony how important art is. "Every year, our foundation gives around 40 scholarships - from dance and music to theatre and hip-hop. As a result, we see an incredible amount of talent. That is inspiring and gives us hope. But budget cuts put art at risk. That's why it's extra nice to see that talent doesn't let itself be held back. Artists always find their own way."</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">The other nominees - pianist Aidan Mikdad and viola player Anuschka Pedano - will each receive 5,000 euros.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Kasper Rietkerk</strong></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">Rietkerk (1995) studied at ArtEZ Conservatoire in Zwolle. He got his master's degree at 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.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>VandenEnde Foundation</strong></p>

<p style="text-align: center;">The VandenEnde Foundation (VDEF) is a cultural fund founded in 2001 by Joop and Janine van den Ende. The fund supports cultural institutions and projects, such as Nationale Opera &amp; Ballet, Bonnefanten Maastricht, Méér Muziek in de Klas, Brutus Rotterdam and Foam. The VDEF also provides scholarships to young, artistic talents. Since then, almost 900 young people have been able to study at courses at home and abroad with a scholarship and thus develop themselves further.</p>

<p style="text-align: center;">The VDEF awards two prizes. The Mary Dresselhuys Prize for actors (every other year) and, since 2023, the Next Step Award every year. Previous winners of the Next Step Award were director Sarah Blok and animator Madeleine Homan.</p>

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