Keep an Eye is great in jazz

Jong Metropole 

The Keep an Eye Foundation is proud to be in partnership with the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. As enthusiastic advocates of culture and art they launched their first joint project in 2016: Young Metropole – where jazz meets classical music. An orchestra just as swinging as the famous Metropole Orchestra and on its way to reaching the same iconic status. Together with Young Metropole, The Keep an Eye Foundation and The Cultuurfonds provide very talented young musicians with a stage on which to show their talents to the world, while ensuring people can enjoy great music at special venues throughout the country. On top of this, the Keep an Eye Outstanding Talent Award is given to the most talented individual out of all the already extremely talented individuals, and who additionally has unifying qualities in the orchestra.

The Records

With The Records in Concert, Keep an Eye annually supports three albumproductions by up-and-coming jazz ensembles in the Netherlands. Alumni/bands of all Dutch conservatories can apply. A jury of prestigue jazz-professionals will decide which 7 bands will perform in the finals! The prize of € 10,000,- per band gives them the opportunity to develop and present themselves professionally.

With The Records on Tour, the prize package is extended to include a tour along number of Dutch jazz stages. For The Records on Tour, we are collaborating with the VNJJ (Vereniging Nederlandse Jazzpodia en Jazzfestivals). Known as the driving force behind the former Young Vip Tour. The VNJJ currently consists of forty of the most prominent jazz venues and festivals in the Netherlands. Think of the Bimhuis, LantarenVenster, TivoliVredenburg, Paradox, but also of some smaller venues.

Keep an Eye Summer Jazz Workshops 

Promising and talented jazz musicians are given the chance to develop further within this special programme through an intensive and versatile week full of workshops and master classes. Under the guidance of experienced teachers from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and internationally renowned guest teachers participants work on their musical skills and artistic expression.
During the week, various aspects of jazz music are explored, including improvisation, composition, ensemble playing and interpretation. Students are challenged to refine their own style and take musical risks, while receiving direct feedback from some of the world’s leading jazz educators. They also get the chance to play with fellow musicians, which not only improves their technique, but also teaches them how to listen, respond and communicate within an ensemble.
Besides the intensive lessons and rehearsals, there is room for inspiration and networking. Participants are immersed in an environment where jazz is experienced in all its facets, with the opportunity to learn from the experience and expertise of their teachers and each other.
The week is concluded in a festive manner with a spectacular performance on one of the most prestigious jazz stages in the Netherlands. This concert is not only the highlight of the week, but also offers the young musicians a unique opportunity to show their growth and development to a live audience. It is an experience that not only enriches them musically, but also provides a valuable springboard for their future career in the jazz world.

Keep an Eye International Jazz Award 

The Keep an Eye International Jazz Award is a prestigious competition for exceptionally talented jazz musicians. Every year, students from leading international conservatories compete for various prizes, including best band, best soloist and best arrangement. The jury consists of renowned names from the jazz world, who use their expertise and critical eye to select the most promising talents.
Besides providing a stage for exceptional talent, the Keep an Eye Foundation plays an important role in the further development of young jazz musicians. In recent years, the foundation has supported artists through scholarships, mentoring and career guidance. Thanks to this help, many participants have been able to strengthen their professional careers and further develop within the international jazz scene.
The Keep an Eye International Jazz Award is more than a competition; it is a springboard for the next generation of jazz musicians, where talent is recognised, boundaries are pushed and careers are launched.

‘Keep an Eye Jazz Concertjes’

Young musicians have a great need for playing experience. Not only the experience they gain during training, rehearsals or when performing for smaller groups of their peers, although it all contributes to them reaching a broader audience. Keep an Eye helps them to reach that audience and at the same time work on their practical experience.
In Singer Laren (Theater and Museum) both jazz and classical concerts are programmed throughout the year. Every first Sunday of the month, Keep an Eye hosts concerts that sell out every single time!
Jazz concerts in the Winter months, and classical concerts in the Summer. These concerts are a joint project of Singer and Keep an Eye. Singer offers the location and further facilities and Keep an Eye takes care of the fees of the musicians. The jazz concerts are programmed by the Conservatory of Amsterdam.
Apart from the concerts at Singer, since 2020 the Keep an Eye Foundation started a second series of concerts at the Studio 150 Bethlehemkerk. This former church in Amsterdam Noord was recently transformed into one of the most breathtaking and renowned studios in the Netherlands, and beyond. These concerts started just after COVID-19 stopped all live performances, and therefore the concerts will be broadcast as a livestream. Programmed by Georges Mutsaerts (former director at Festival Wonderfeel), there will be a mix of jazz music, classical music and cabaret!

The Youngsters

What do you get when you bring together young talent from different musical genres? Adventure!
In 2020, we launched a special collaboration with the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, in which the conservatoire’s two talent departments joined forces for the first time: the Sweelinck Academy (classical music, 9-18 years old) and the Junior Jazz College (jazz music, 11-18 years old). This initiative brings together young musicians from different backgrounds to broaden their horizons and explore musical boundaries.
The first project of these young talents was the creation of a grand one-off orchestra: the CvA Young Talent Orchestra XL, led by renowned conductor and composer Martin Fondse. With his wealth of experience in working with young musicians, Fondse knows how to encourage talent in a playful and innovative way, with room for improvisation, a strong sound, freedom and, of course, adventure!
This project and future initiatives aim to create an inspiring community for young talent, where collaboration across musical genres is encouraged. Through this groundbreaking collaboration, the youngest musicians not only learn to open their ears to new styles, but also build a broad network that will be of great value for their future musical careers.

Grachtenfestival: The Jazz Gems

A new project is in the making – an initiative that offers young talent a unique opportunity to shine at one of the Netherlands’ most iconic music festivals: the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam.
This project is specifically for young musicians who have been building their artistic path for some time and are ready to take the next step. Instead of just participating in existing concerts and ensembles, they will now have their own stage to present their musical vision to a wider audience. This means not only a chance to showcase their talent at a renowned festival, but also a moment to grow as performing artists, gain experience in independent programming and further develop within the professional music world.
Known for offering a stage to promising musicians, the Grachtenfestival is the perfect environment for this project. Here, these young artists can immerse themselves in an inspiring setting, where classical music, jazz and crossover projects come together and where both new talent and established names shine.
One thing is certain: this project opens doors for young musicians who are ready to surprise audiences and further develop their artistic identity. Keep an eye on this page for updates and find out who will soon be featured on this special stage!

Keep an Eye Production Price at Festival Wonderfeel

Wonderfeel is a three-day outdoor festival dedicated entirely to classical music, but with the relaxed and inviting atmosphere of a pop festival. Located in the beautiful nature reserve of ‘s-Graveland, this unique festival offers an inspiring environment where visitors can enjoy live music in an approachable way. Seven different stages present a wide range of performances, ranging from intimate solo performances to large-scale ensembles. Both world-renowned musicians and promising young talents will have the chance to share their musical passion with the audience here.
Besides these special concerts, Wonderfeel is actively committed to the development of young talent. The festival does this partly through the Keep an Eye initiative, an important collaboration that supports young musicians in their artistic growth. One of the highlights of this is the prestigious Keep an Eye Production Prize. This prize offers a promising young musician the unique opportunity to develop and perform a full production in the following year. This not only gives the winner financial support, but also the chance to set up a large-scale project, make artistic choices and present themselves to a wide audience.
The Keep an Eye Production Prize is awarded during the festival by a professional jury, consisting of experts from the music and culture sector. Besides the honour and recognition that come with the prize, the winner also receives intensive guidance and artistic support. This means that the young musician will be supported by experienced professionals and assisted in developing his or her own artistic vision. Moreover, the winner is rewarded with a prominent place at Wonderfeel, where the newly developed production will be presented to an enthusiastic audience the following year.
Thanks to this initiative, Wonderfeel not only contributes to an unforgettable festival experience for visitors, but also to the future of classical music. By investing structurally in the new generation of musicians, the festival not only offers a stage to established names, but also to young talents who want to develop further and take their career to the next level. In this way, Wonderfeel forms an inspiring platform where tradition and innovation come together, and where the music of today and tomorrow are linked in a unique, natural setting.

Side by Side

In 2020, Keep an Eye partnered with the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. This collaboration aims to offer young, talented musicians additional opportunities to develop within their field and to support them in their artistic growth. The cooperation includes two major initiatives: a contribution to the Side by Side Project and the presentation of an incentive prize for promising young talent.
The Side by Side Project offers conservatoire students a unique opportunity to work with world-class musicians. In particular, they will have the opportunity to play at a high level with the renowned Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, an internationally renowned ensemble focusing on historical performance practices. Through this collaboration, students can not only refine their technical skills, but also gain valuable insights into historical performance styles and interpretations.
During this project, young musicians literally stand side by side with experienced professionals. They are immersed in the practice of playing in an orchestra operating according to authentic performance principles, using historically correct instruments and playing techniques. This gives students a deep understanding of music from the 18th and early 19th centuries, and allows them to gain experience in a professional and inspiring environment.
In addition to the Side by Side Project, Keep an Eye awards an incentive prize to exceptionally talented students at the Royal Conservatoire. This prize aims to support them in taking the next steps in their musical careers, for example by making financial resources available for further studies, master classes or international collaborations.
Through these initiatives, Keep an Eye helps young musicians to further develop their talents and expand their professional network, thus better preparing them for a successful future in the music world.

‘Keep an Eye Classical Concertjes’

Young musicians have a great need for playing experience. Not only the experience they gain during training, rehearsals or when performing for smaller groups of their peers, altough it all contributes to them reaching a broader audience. Keep an Eye helps them to reach that audience and at the same time work on their practical experience.
In Singer Laren (Theater and Museum) both jazz and classical concerts are programmed throughout the year. Every first Sunday of the month, Keep an Eye hosts concerts that sell out every single time! Jazz concerts in the Winter months, and classical concerts in the Summer. These concerts are a joint project of Singer and Keep an Eye. Singer offers the location and further facilities and Keep an Eye takes care of the fees of the musicians. The classical concerts are programmed by Georges Mutsaerts, who is also the director at Wonderfeel festival.

Notes, Beats and Bars

The project focuses on connecting young people from different backgrounds through art and culture, with a special focus on hip-hop and urban culture. Previous editions of the project have proven to be successful in reaching young people from various districts in The Hague, using music and dance as a means to discover talent and promote social cohesion.
The collaboration between The Hague HipHop Centre and The Residentie Orkest culminates in a major performance, Symphonic Junction Concert, at Het Paard in June 2025. This is a joint performance by the entire Residentie Orkest and rappers and breakdancers from Haags HipHop Centrum. A big name will be recruited for the other half of the programme. Preparation for this concert includes intensive rehearsals in which both classical musicians and hip-hop artists work together to create a unique musical experience. A symbiosis of different musical genres, the concert will be a cultural event that appeals to both traditional music lovers and lovers of modern urban culture.

The Dutch Don’t Dance Division – ballet

Twenty-five years ago, De Dutch Don’t Dance Division (DDDDD) was founded in the living room of Thom Stuart and Rinus Sprong. Since then, a solid community has been built where; young children are introduced to the stage; dancers in training and recent graduates learn to spread their wings; retired and less mobile people keep moving and patients with M.S. or Parkinson’s get a chance to work with their bodies. DDDDD, in its studio, is one of the few places in The Hague, or even in the world, where all these different people meet and share a passion.

From the very beginning, DDDDD had one important goal in mind: to make ballet less elitist. Thom Stuart and Rinus Sprong have always believed that dance should be accessible to everyone and all ages. They took ballet out of the theatre’s ‘black box’ and brought it to all kinds of venues inside and outside The Hague: from nursing homes to primary schools, from the Hofvijver to the City Hall, from performances at Armin van Buuren’s to the Grote Kerk, from living rooms to mass choreographies for 1,000 amateurs and from breakdance to Bollywood.