Hi! My name is Mila and I will be starting as a student of the International Viola Academy in January ‘25.
I have been playing the violin since I was six years old and first encountered the viola at 10, at an introductory course from Karin Dolman. I immediately fell in love with the instrument and the sound. Initially, I continued to study the violin with Mireille van der Wart at the School for Young Talent at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. I participated in many concourse; Iordens Violin concourse, Britten violin concourse, Prinses Christina concourse and the Davina van Wely concourse.
But eventually I felt like I was missing something during my studies with the violin, so I decided to pick up the viola again. I then started with the preparatory course for viola at Codarts with Karin. During these years, I got to partake in a lot of exciting opportunities: I got a masterclass by Timothy Ridout during the International Viola Congress, and I got the chance to solo with a Dutch youth orchestra. I also participated in the Prinses Christina concourse, and won the third prize at the Britten viola concourse. But most importantly, my love for music had come back to me!
Yet, during Covid-19 I decided to continue with an academic study. I started studying Child Development and Education at the University of Amsterdam and was out of the music industry for some years.
A year ago I found my way back to music. With my participation in the Nederlands Studenten Orkest ‘24, I got to experience an intense period of rehearsing, followed by two weeks of playing 14 concerts throughout the Netherlands and Germany. I now play in the UvA-Orkest J.Pzn Sweelinck and substitute in the VU-Orkest.
I am ready to get back into doing what I have always loved, making music. The International Viola Academy will help me get back on track, and I am keen to make up for the years I unfortunately stopped making music. It is very important for me to grow as a musician again, next to my education at the UvA.
I’m expecting to finish my Bachelor at the UvA in June ‘25 and will hopefully continue with the Master Clinical Developmental Psychology. I would love to explore how music en psychology can go together, and am considering to write my bachelor’s thesis on this subject.
My goal for the following year is to get all of my technical skills back (and learn some new ones!), grow as a performing musician, and dive back into the viola world!