Joanna Westers, second violin

Joanna Westers earned a Bachelor’s degree in performance, graduating with honours from the Utrecht School of the Arts in 2005, where she studied with Chris Duindam. A recipient of scholarships from the Prince Bernhard Cultural Fund and the VSB Fund, as well as an RCM Constant Kit and Lambert Scholarship, she continued her violin studies at the Royal College of Music in London with Levon Chilingirian. There, Westers obtained a postgraduate degree in advanced performance with honours in July 2007. The Huygens Scholarship Programme enabled Westers to go on to obtain an Artist Diploma at the RCM in 2008.

After completing her studies, Westers was admitted to the Academy of the Concertgebouworkest. In June 2009, she earned a certificate after successfully completing her Academy year, subsequently being named the winner of the Bernard Haitink Fund Award, established to promote young talent. Consequently, Westers was able to participate in masterclasses with György Pauk and others in London.

Joanna Westers has been a member of the Concertgebouworkest’s second violin section since 1 April 2011. She also regularly plays with Camerata Concertgebouworkest.

Westers plays a violin built by Johannes Cuypers in The Hague in 1808.