2026
September 12, 2026
Annija Anna Zarina wins Tera de Marez Oyens Award 2026 with 'I' for voice and media (pre recorded the same voice).
In the award ceremony during the Gaudeamus Festival 2026 at Theater Kikker for the Tera de Marez Oyens award, the chair of the award committee applauded the performance, how it conducted your attention, fully engaged in listening. A very effective interesting staging. All over, very well done, clear score well instructed, simpel concept, very nice development in time.
The prize consists of an amount of €2,500, intended for a new commission for a short composition for a professional ensemble. It will be performed during the next Gaudeamus Festival and it will be published by music publisher Donemus.
In the jury of the Tera de Marez Oyens Award 2026 were Aspasia Nasopoulou (composer, artistic director, curator, teacher), Jonas Bisquert (composer, programmer, community artist, teacher), Brandt Attema (artistic director, teacher, bastrombonist), Astrid Haring (harpist)/Ellen Overweel (musicologist). Chairman: David de Marez Oyens
August 7, 2026
During the upcoming edition of Gaudeamus Festival in Utrecht, the Tera de Marez Oyens Prize will be awarded. The award is dedicated to stimulating composition talent recently graduated in the Netherlands and bridging the step between training and professional practice. The prize consists of an amount of € 2,500, intended for a new assignment to write a short composition for a professional ensemble. The work will be performed during Gaudeamus Festival 2027.
Among the four nominees is Annija Anna Zarina, an alumnus of the Royal Conservatory The Hague, with her work “I” for amplified voice and fixed media, featuring vocalist Annija Krivjonoka.
The nominated works will be performed on September 12, 2026, at Theater De Kikker in Utrecht, where the prize winner will be announced. The award consists of €2,500 for a new composition assignment to be performed at the Gaudeamus Festival 2027.
February 13, 2026
Zarina was selected as one of 10 composition fellows to receive a full fellowship at a prestigious summer residency running from June 24 to August 24. During the two-month program, she will compose three commissions for the Aspen Conducting Academy Orchestra, the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, and the Aspen Opera Theater and Vocal ARTS. The festival's composition faculty includes composer-in-residence Christopher Theofanidis, principal guest composer Caroline Shaw, among many guest composers.