Amarte collaborates annually with the Grachtenfestival to provide a platform for young musicians to showcase their talent. Through the Grachtenfestival X Amarte: Roots outside of Europe open call, musicians apply for a chance to perform during the festival. With these concerts, we aim to present a wide range of musical styles from around the world. Additionally, a second open call is launched each year to give recently graduated musicians the opportunity to perform together in a new formation with the newly established Grachtenfestival Ensemble.We are proud to announce the selected musicians:HarmonEast EnsembleAugust 8, 14:00Felix MeritisIn the program Echoes of the Court, the HarmonEast Ensemble blends the refined sounds of Ottoman court music with the elegance of European Baroque. With a unique lineup of ney, piano, cello, viola, and percussion, the ensemble explores how music has moved between cultures over the centuries.Works by Henry Purcell, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Dede Efendi, Callisto Guatelli, and Şerif Muhittin Targan reveal the surprising connections between European and Ottoman court cultures. The warm, meditative sound of the ney and the expressive possibilities of the piano create a remarkable combination.Julia Tavit (piano)Sukru Kirtis (ney – Turkish reed flute)Wilker Paredes (viola)Beste Yildiz (cello)Veysel Dzhesur (percussion)Click here to read more.Keroncong AnemoiaAugust 8, 16:00Felix MeritisIn this special recital, soprano Madeline Saputra and pianist/violist Apollon Kalamenios poetically merge Indonesian keroncong with Western art songs. Inspired by the letters of Kartini, they create a moving musical journey filled with memory, struggle, and hope.Classical composers such as Berg, Copland, and Saariaho alternate with Indonesian masters like Poniman, Marzuki, and Martohartono. A layered and innovative recital that connects cultures and eras.Madeline Saputra (soprano)Apollon Kalamenios (piano)Click here to read more.Ali Yarıcı & Linda LukasAugust 9, 14:00Stedelijk MuseumThe Stedelijk Museum sets the stage for a special concert by Ali Yarıcı and Linda Lukas. Drawing inspiration from giants like Béla Bartók, Arvo Pärt, and Olivier Messiaen, they present original compositions, improvisations, and influences from Estonian and Turkish folk music—perfectly fitting the museum’s rich cultural context.Ali Yarıcı (guitar)Linda Lukas (violin)Click here to read more.AuMEnsembleAugust 9, 16:00Stedelijk MuseumWith AuMEnsemble, embark on a musical journey through the spiritual and musical traditions of the Middle East, shaped by contemporary sonic experiments. The program explores repertoire inspired by Sufi and klezmer music, creating a dialogue between the Middle East and the West.The concert features original arrangements by the trio, based on music by composers such as Kinan Azmeh, Fazıl Say, Stephen Goss, and George Gurdjieff, reimagined for a chamber ensemble and electronics. Within the walls of the Stedelijk Museum, hypnotic rhythms and refined timbres transport the listener through a soundscape suspended between tradition and innovation.Alberto Radossi (percussion)Danielle Bolletta (saxophone)Marco Tencati Corino (guitar)Click here to read more.The Grachtenfestival Ensemble (made possible in part by Amarte)August 12, 20:00Pantar, De TuinderijThe newly formed Grachtenfestival Ensemble performs a program surrounded by the carnivorous plants of De Tuinderij. This specially assembled ensemble, created for the festival, takes the audience on a journey through music from different periods of history, interspersed with stories of growth and flourishing in the city.The Grachtenfestival Ensemble was formed through the Grachtenfestival X Amarte: Grachtenfestival Ensembleopen call. Young musicians were selected to come together this summer to form an ensemble. The lineup includes clarinet, trombone, accordion, percussion, violin, cello, and double bass. During the festival, the musicians collaborated on new repertoire and unique concert formats in unexpected locations.Livia Stefani (violin)Emma Warmelink (cello)Roberto Sanhermelando Blanes (double bass)Miguel Ramos (clarinet)Maarten Combrink (trombone)Helena Sousa Estévez (accordion)João Sequeira (percussion)Click here to read more.