November 2025 – It has been a great year for composer and pianist Kobus Jansen (16). On 1 January, he performed his own piece Meet in the Middle with the NBE at the New Year’s Concert as one of the winners of the Composition Competition. Now he has been named Children’s Composer of the Netherlands.
Composer of the Netherlands Anne-Maartje Lemereis, herself a former winner of the NBE Composition Competition, presented the title to Kobus on 16 November. Child Composer of the Netherlands is an initiative of BumaCultuur. Anne-Maartje Lemereis created the title in line with her commitment to music education in the Netherlands. Kobus Jansen will be mentored by Anne-Maartje Lemereis in a creative mentoring programme over the coming year.
Young people between the ages of 10 and 17 were eligible to apply for the title of Children’s Composer of the Netherlands. During the Compose It composition programme organised by Het Muziek, the new title holder was announced and new work by Kobus Jansen premiered.