Astrid Kruisselbrink

Astrid Kruisselbrink, born on 9 February 1972 in Velsen, Netherlands, began taking piano lessons at age nine, studying both classical and jazz music. She enrolled at the Rotterdam Conservatory (Codarts) in 1993 to study composition under Klaas de Vries, Peter-Jan Wagemans, and René Uijlenhoet, graduating cum laude in 1999. During her studies, she won first prize at the European Young Women Composers Contest for her choral work *Zijn lippen zijn uw lippen*. Her composition *Spin* was selected for the Gaudeamus Music Week in 1998, and another piece, *In*, was performed by the Balletorchestra conducted by Richard Dufallo just before her graduation. She also briefly studied with renowned composers such as Luciano Berio, Betsy Jolas, Louis Andriessen, and György Kurtag. Kruisselbrink has composed works for various ensembles and choirs, including *String quartet* (2000), performed by the Doelenkwartet, and *Pra* (2003) for orchestra and soprano, featuring Monique Krüs and Het Gelders Orkest. Her work *Strijklicht* (2007) was performed by Het Rotterdams Kamerorkest. In 2009, her piano composition *Apen en Beer* premiered in Rotterdam with 30 young pianists performing the pieces. She also created the chamber opera *The Reclining Woman*, based on Henry Moore's sculptures, which was performed in 2011. In addition to orchestral and ensemble commissions, Kruisselbrink has composed for theater and children, including the children's operas *Fietsen* (1999) and *Schwarz wie Tinte* (2009), based on works by Gregie de Maeyer and Wim Hofman, respectively. In 2015, the Asko/Schönberg ensemble performed her work *Die Klage um Linos*. Kruisselbrink lives in Gouda with ...