Gaudeamus is all about giving opportunities to young artists in the hope of kickstarting their careers. In this series of articles, we check in with some of the artists we worked with in the past to see where they are now. Episode 3: Maya Fridman, artist in residence at Gaudeamus in 2018 and 2019.
What are you up to at this moment?
In July, I traveled to Massachusetts to participate as a composer in The Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival. This was my first time travelling to the United States and hearing a premiere of my composition where I am not performing myself. And I also did a solo cello performance there. Now I’m working on a new composition for Grachtenfestival, “Tree of Life”, a musical narrative inspired by the ten sefirot of the Tree of Life, the spiritual principles from the Jewish religious tradition. This cycle is written for instruments from both the classical and Middle Eastern traditions. Needless to say, I am incredibly excited and grateful for all these adventures.
How do you look back on working with Gaudeamus, and what role did it play in your career?
I look back on my residency with Gaudeamus with warmth and joy. Gaudeamus allowed me to experiment and reflect on what being an artist means. At the beginning of my residency, I wrote down a list of ideas I hoped to realize in my career. One of them was arranging Alfred Schnittke’s “Peer Gynt” and performing it with Tomoko Mukaiyama in a theatre setting. Thanks to Gaudeamus, this project became a reality. During my residency, I also collaborated closely with Maxim Shalygin, Kaveh Vares, Gagi Petrovic, and many other composers whose works I still regularly perform. It was an incredibly inspiring environment to be part of.
What lasting influence has working with Gaudeamus had on the work that you are making right now?
Thanks to multiple brainstorms with the Gaudeamus team, many of my ideas took shape. I still remember discussing with Martijn Buser what kind of artist I wanted to become. Transitioning from being mainly a classical cellist, I became deeply inspired by the processes of creating and researching, taking my first steps toward becoming a maker. This tremendous support allowed me to indulge my curiosity about diverse musical worlds and grow as an artist who doesn’t have to be only a performer or a composer. This is why I can now go to The Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival as a blend of both.
During Gaudeamus Festival 2024, Maya will do a performance with BMX artist Sietse van Berkel on the Saturday Night. Get your tickets now!
Photo: Brendon Heinst