Rogier van Otterloo Award

Most talented

The Rogier van Otterloo Award is presented every summer by Cultuurfonds. The winner of this award receives € 10.000 and will be invited to write a composition for Jong Metropole in the spirit of Rogier van Otterloo, the late Dutch legendary composer and former chief conductor of the Metropole Orkest. The composition will be performed by Jong Metropole during its next Summer Tour. The Rogier van Otterloo Award encourages the most talented young composer / arranger / conductor / orchestra leader living in the Netherlands to continue his or her own development in the area between classical and pop music.

Potential candidates for this award are being scouted through a broad network of teachers, artistic leaders, programmers, et cetera. An expert jury will then assess the arrangements, compositions and videos sent in by young (maximum 35 years old) contestants and preselect the final candidates. The artistic leadership of Jong Metropole decides upon the final winner.

Winner in 2025

Chris Muller is a passionate composer, arranger, and bandleader in the tradition of the great jazz big bands. With a keen ear for detail, rich tonal colors, and subtle phrasing, he seamlessly weaves sections into a cohesive musical whole. His craftsmanship, dedication, and refined style make him an ideal composer and leader for larger ensembles, according to the jury.

The jury’s comments:
Chris Muller is a passionate composer, arranger, and bandleader in the tradition of the great jazz big bands. With a keen ear for detail, rich tonal colors, and subtle phrasing, he seamlessly weaves sections together into a unified musical whole. His craftsmanship, dedication, and tasteful style make him an ideal composer and leader for larger ensembles.

Chris Muller received the award from Ellen Overweel of the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, in the presence of Jochen Neuffer and Ewout van Dingstee.
Photo by Veerle Bastiaanssen

Former winners

2024: Suzan Veneman
2023: Camiel Jansen
2022: Bernard van Rossum
2021: Kika Sprangers
2019: Damiano Pascarelli
2018: Tijn Wybenga
2017: Jesse Passenier
2016: Zacharias S. Falkenberg

Rogier van Otterloo

Rogier van Otterloo (1941-1988) left his unique mark on popular music in The Netherlands in the 1970s and 1980s. He did so as arranger, conductor and composer for countless albums, projects, television programmes and from 1980 to 1988 as chief conductor of the Metropole Orkest.