Biography
Véronique van Duurling studied at the Conservatory of Maastricht (Netherlands), where she completed her Bachelor of Music (Pedagogy and Performance) as well as a Postgraduate Degree with Carlo Marchione. She then pursued a “Cours de Spécialisation” with the Duo Melis at the Strasbourg Conservatory (France), which she completed with the highest distinction.
At the University of Alicante (Spain), she participated in the “I Máster en Interpretación de Guitarra Clásica 2013,” where she worked closely with guitar virtuosos such as David Russell, Ignacio Rodes, Hopkinson Smith, Roberto Aussel, Manuel Barrueco, Carles Trepat, Nigel North, as well as the two-time Grammy-winning conductor José de Eusebio. She then completed the official Master’s degree program in “Performance and Musical Research” at the Conservatori Superior de Música Óscar Esplá in Alicante (Spain).
Véronique has taken part in masterclasses with numerous renowned artists, including Leon Frijns, Betho Davezac, Enno Voorhorst, Roman Krejci, Tilmann Hoppstock, Annette Kruisbrink, David Tannenbaum, Lynn McGrath, Gaelle Solal, Goran Krivokapić, Zoran Dukic, Paolo Pegoraro, Timothy Kain, Gerhard Reichenbach, Liviu Georgescu, Pavel Steidl, Marcin Dylla, Thanos Mitsalis, Margarita Escarpa, Lorenzo Micheli, Tino Andersen, Alex Garrobé, José María Gallardo del Rey, Johan Fostier, and Giorgio Albiani.
The renowned Dutch guitarist and composer Annette Kruisbrink praised Véronique’s interpretation of Homenaje a Segovia as the best she had ever heard (2005).
She has been invited to perform and give masterclasses in numerous countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Ireland, Romania, Switzerland, Greece, the Czech Republic, England, Norway, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Slovakia, the United States, Mexico, Mauritius, Australia, and New Zealand.
She has also appeared as a guest on various television programs in Belgium (Villa Vanthilt and TV Limburg), the Netherlands, and Spain.
Together with a small group of students from the Strasbourg Conservatory, she organized the “Autumn Guitar Series” in 2010, featuring concerts in Alsace, Kehl, and Gengenbach.
Lessons
As a dedicated educator, Véronique has given masterclasses at numerous guitar festivals, as well as at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Victorian College of the Arts (Australia), the Conservatoire de Strasbourg (France), and the University of Xalapa in Veracruz (Mexico).
She is co-founder of the private music school “Two Notes” in Düren (Germany), which continues to have a waiting list of students.
She currently teaches at the Municipal School for Music and Performing Arts in Bühl, as well as privately in Baden-Baden.
Awards
Solo
1st Prize (Guitar Solo Category) at the “Jongeren op het Podium” Competition in Lanaken, Belgium (2000)
3rd Prize at the “Veria International Guitar Competition,” Greece (2012)
3rd Prize at the Córdoba Guitar Festival, Spain (2010)
Concert Award from the renowned Forte Institute in Belgium, including performances at the Academiezaal and Keizerszaal in Sint-Truiden (2008)
Scholarship from the Dutch Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds for the acquisition of a guitar by the Australian luthier Greg Smallman and Sons (2010)
2nd Prize at “Nuits musicales de Cieux,” France (2014)
Award of a concert guitar by luthier J.P. Sardin at the “Nuits musicales de Cieux,” France (2014)
Chamber Music
1st Prize (Guitar Ensemble) at the “Jongeren op het Podium” Competition in Lanaken, Belgium (2000)
2nd Prize at the “International Guitar Competition Olsztyn,” Poland, with Harold Gretton as Duo Amythis (2012)
2nd Prize at the “Transylvania International Guitar Competition,” Romania, with Harold Gretton as Duo Amythis (2009)
“Live Music Now” Scholarship with concert activities in Baden-Württemberg (Germany), with Harold Gretton as Duo Amythis
1st Prize (unanimously awarded by the jury) in the Chamber Music category at the “Nuits musicales de Cieux,” France, with Harold Gretton as Duo Amythis (2014)
Pedagogy & Projects
Alongside my concert activities, I work internationally in workshops, masterclasses, and with guitar societies.
At the center is the development of an individual sound. I not only teach technique, but also show how expression, sound aesthetics, and musical understanding interact.
A special focus of my work lies in sound optimization—among other things through targeted nail technique, an area that is crucial for many guitarists but is rarely taught in a systematic way.
In addition, I direct guitar orchestras and develop projects that connect artistic work with pedagogical practice.
CD
In 2016, she released the duo album The Journey together with Harold Gretton, which includes, among other works, the premiere recording of a composition by Johannes Möller, as well as additional original pieces and arrangements for guitar duo by Duo Amythis.
The production was successfully funded through a crowdfunding campaign on wemakeit.
Das Programm
1. Three Spanish Masterpieces
i. Danza Español 1 from 'La Vida Breve' - Manuel De Falla (1876-1946), arr. Emilio Pujol
ii. Mallorca - Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909), arr. Duo Amythis
iii. Danza Ritual del Fuego from 'El Amor Brujo' - Manuel De Falla (1876-1946), arr. Duo Amythis
2. When buds are breaking (2009) - Johannes Möller (*1981) (world-première recording)
3. Sonata Fantasia (1992) - Dusan Bogdanovic (*1955)
i. Allegro ritmico
ii. Adagio, rubato
iii. Allegro Molto
4. Wave Radiance - Phillip Houghton (*1954)
5. Percy Grainger Suite - Percy Grainger (1882-1961), (arr. Greg Nestor and Duo Amythis)
i. Country Gardens (Handkerchief Dance) (1913)
ii. Irish Tune from County Derry (Danny Boy) (1911)
iii. Shepherd's Hey (1911)
