Tjeerd Top, first violin

Tjeerd Top studied with Qui van Woerdekom and Jaring Walta at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where he completed a bachelor’s degree with distinction in 2000. He obtained a master’s degree, again with distinction, at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam after having studied with Alexander Kerr for two years.

Tjeerd Top is a winner of the Oskar Back Competition, at which he was also the recipient, together with pianist Mariken Zandvliet, of the Kersjes van de Groenekan Fund Prize.

Top has given solo performances with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Holland Symfonia, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Costa Rica. He performs regularly with the Vermeer Trio. Together with pianist Mariana Izman, he was selected for the Het Debuut series. For many years Tjeerd formed a duo with harpist Lavinia Meijer. Together they won the Fortis MeesPierson Award. Tjeerd also performed chamber music with Leonidos Kavakos, Emanuel Ax, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Thomas Adès and many others.

Tjeerd Top was appointed first assistant principal violinist of the Concertgebouworkest in 2005. He is in demand as guest concertmaster with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester, Bamberger Symphoniker and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Tjeerd Top plays a 1713 Stradivarius, acquired by a private patron and provided to him on loan via Foundation Concertgebouworkest.