The Radio Philharmonic Orchestra launched an annual stipend for young, talented composers in 2021. The first stipend, awarded to Dutch-Israeli Karmit Fadael, was followed by stipends for Sílvia Lanao and Giuliano Comoglio.

New music and young talent
During the first lockdown, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra started a series of 'corona compositions', in order to be able to play new music during the corona crisis. The success of this series of world premieres inspired the Friends of the RFO to develop an annual project and to award a scholarship to a young composer.

The performance of newly composed music and the development of talent are among the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra's core tasks. Now more than ever, it is important to support Dutch composers with commissions. With the Stipendium Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, young talent is supported and given the opportunity to work with a professional orchestra for a year.

The stipend was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Friends of the RFO, an annual gift from an RFO fan and the municipality of Hilversum, in cooperation with Podium Witteman. The commission consists of composing four new works, one of which will premiere at the New Year's Eve gathering of the municipality of Hilversum. The other compositions will be premiered by the television programme Podium Witteman throughout the year, performed by members of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Podium Witteman's adventurous in-house ensemble, Fuse.

2021: Karmit Fadael
The Stipendium Radio Philharmonic Orchestra for 2021 has been awarded to the Dutch-Israeli Karmit Fadael. She studied at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague with Calliope Tsoupaki, Guus Janssen and Martijn Padding. She graduated in 2019 and has since composed commissioned works for the Residentie Orkest, November Music and Doelen Ensemble, among others. "As a person I am emotional, stubborn, rational but also calm. You can recognise these qualities in my music. In my work I am always looking for new sound combinations and try to appeal to both the audience and the musicians." More information about Karmit and her music can be found here.

2022: Sílvia Lanao
A committee, consisting of musicians of the RFO and composer/conductor Micha Hamel, has decided to award the stipend 2022 to Sílvia Lanao. She may compose two works next season and attend all orchestra rehearsals. Sílvia Lanao (1995, Spain) is fascinated by different sound colours and sound structures. She began her composition studies at the Conservatori Liceu in Barcelona. Her open-minded and critical nature brought her to Amsterdam, where she completed her Bachelor of Composition at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Wim Henderickx and Willem Jeths. In 2018 she won the first prize, the Alba Rosa Viëtor composition prize at the Alba Rosa Viva! festival.

2023: Giuliano Comoglio