Interview with Hawijch Elders,  1st Prize Winner of the A. Mormone Premio 2025

Today, we meet Hawijch Elders, the brilliant violinist who has been awarded the Antonio Mormone International Prize — “A Prize for the Future with Roots in Tradition.” This prestigious award, organized by Fondazione La Società dei Concerti di Milano, celebrates young artists who combine deep respect for musical heritage with a vision for the future of performance.

With Evgeny Kissin as Honorary President and Edoardo Zosi as Artistic Director, the prize offers not only financial support and a Universal Music recording contract, but also three years of artistic guidance — a true launchpad for an exceptional musical career.
We’re thrilled to speak with Hawijch about her journey, inspirations, and what this recognition means for her path as an artist.

Topics:

00'57 The motto of the prize is “A Prize for the Future with Roots in Tradition.” How do you personally connect to this idea? In what ways do tradition and innovation coexist in your playing?
04'42 Short piece of the winning Concert at La Scala
06.53 Hawijch talks about her experience on stage
08'10 Hawijch talks about the support of the audience, orchestra, and conductor
09'12 The semifinals had the innovative formula of “incognito jurors.” How did performing without seeing or knowing the jury affect your mindset and interpretation?
11'44 Hawijch currents concerts
12'37 What advice would you give younger colleagues if they were to ask you, "Should I participate in competitions?"
15'15 You’re still young but already have a strong artistic identity. How did you avoid imitation and find your authentic voice among so many influences?
18'44 You’ve been mentored by important teachers. What makes a great mentor today — and how might that role evolve when so much knowledge is now accessible online?

Subtitles available in English 

One of the Netherlands’ most promising violinists of her generation

Hawijch Elders (b. 1998) is one of the Netherlands’ most promising violinists of her generation. In 2025, she won First Prize at the Premio Internazionale Antonio Mormone, performing Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 at Teatro alla Scala under Massimo Zanetti.

An Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel with Augustin Dumay, she appears frequently on NPO Klassiek and Podium Klassiek, and has collaborated with Sol Gabetta, Valeriy Sokolov, Bertrand Chamayou, and Frank Braley.

Upcoming highlights include debuts with Phion, the Stuttgart Philharmonic, and the FORM Orchestra, plus a solo recital at Amsterdam’s Waalse Kerk.

Previous awards include First Prizes at the Henri Marteau and Leonid Kogan Competitions, and laureateships at Premio Paganini, Lipizer, and Oskar Back. She is a Kersjes Violin Scholarship laureate.

Hawijch studied with Ilya Grubert at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and plays a Gennaro Gagliano violin (Naples ca. 1755) and a Dominique Pecatte bow, on loan from the National Musical Instruments Fund. More on her website

Coming Next: Interview on iClassicals

Natalia Lomeiko, Violin Professor, Royal College of Music London