Alexander
Born in The Netherlands in 1990, Alexander Kraft van Ermel spent his youth on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Born into a musical family, he received his first piano lessons at an early age from his mother and subsequently from his grandfather, the celebrated composer and pianist, Wim Statius Muller.
He continued his musical studies with Alan Weiss at the Utrecht Conservatory after finishing secondary school. At age seventeen Kraft van Ermel won second prize at the Scriabin competition in Paris organized by the ‘Conservatoire Russe’. He was awarded his prize by Mikhail Voskresensky who proclaimed, “such big music from such a small island”.
Indeed, Curaçao possesses a rich and diverse music scene, of which many of the classical Antillean compositions have been taken into Kraft van Ermel’s vast repertoire.
Kraft van Ermel’s latest recording, Antillean Heritage, is an hommage to his grandfather, highlighting his geniality as a composer. The album is available on all major music- streaming platforms.
Upcoming Projects
In the fall of 2024 Alexander partners with music painter Maryleen Schiltkamp in this iteration of the LiveART duo. Excursions! will premiere in Podium Mozaïek Amsterdam on October 16th.
Winter of 2024 will be host to several concerts celebrating the release of Antillean Dances vol. II. Dates and venues tba.
2025, Medtner’s Forgotten Melodies Op. 38
Alexander Kraft van Ermel 