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Introducing: Dominique Vleeshouwers and the all-new TROMP Competition

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The TROMP Percussion Competition in Eindhoven has appointed Dominique Vleeshouwers as its new Artistic Director. A TROMP laureate himself, Vleeshouwers brings to the role a well-established international profile as a solo percussionist, combined with a st

The TROMP Percussion Competition in Eindhoven has entered a new chapter with the appointment of Dominique Vleeshouwers as its Artistic Director. The Dutch percussionist - known professionally as DOMNIQ - assumed the role in 2024 and has already overseen his first edition of the TROMP Percussion Eindhoven Festival, held last year. He now continues with a renewed and expanded format for the next competition edition in 2026.

A former TROMP laureate himself, Vleeshouwers brings to the competition a well-rounded profile: he is a soloist of international renown, a Dutch Music Prize winner, and a dedicated advocate for contemporary music and cross-genre collaboration.
Vleeshouwers first came to international attention by winning First Prize, as well as both the Audience and Press Prizes, at the 2014 edition of the TROMP Competition. Since then, his solo career has included appearances with leading orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic, Tokyo Sinfonietta, and ensembles across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
In 2020, he was awarded the Dutch Music Prize, the highest recognition for a classical musician in the Netherlands — becoming the first percussionist to receive the honour.

Performing under the name DOMNIQ, his work frequently explores alternative performance formats, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the social potential of music. 

Dominque Vleeshouwers- or "DOMINIQ" , the Artistic Director at TROMP in Eindhoven ©Friso Keuris

"Percussion can connect people from all sorts of backgrounds," says Vleeshouwers. "All these musicians are one big community who are very open-minded and up for anything. Can you imagine that I asked musicians to play in a barber shop, during a wine-tasting, walking through the streets of Eindhoven or playing a new piece with 16 tuned triangles in the recital hall?"

Looking Ahead: A Renewed Competition Format in 2026

Building on the momentum of the 2024 festival, TROMP will present a newly structured International Percussion Competition in 2026. The core competition will remain selective — with only 10 participants invited to Eindhoven — but will now include three artistically varied performance rounds:

  • Round 1: Current Pulse — 30-minute solo portrait with full artistic freedom
  • Round 2: Facets of Percussion — a curated repertoire night at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven
  • Round 3: Postcards to the Future — a recital and creative video pitch

Three finalists will then perform with Het Muziek ensemble, co-creating new works in collaboration with composers and visual artists for the competition’s final concert.

In parallel, TROMP 2026 will also launch the Next Gen: Mallet Competition, a new initiative for 50 young marimba and vibraphone players under 26. Unlike the main competition, this platform focuses on education, international exchange, and early career development.

TROMP has long been known as a launchpad for young soloists. The revised competition structure reinforces that role, with not only prize money but also artistic project support, masterclasses, and performance opportunities for its laureates. The top three prizewinners in 2026 will each receive funding to develop a new artistic project in collaboration with the TROMP team, to be premiered at a future festival edition.

As Artistic Director, Vleeshouwers will remain closely involved in supporting these projects, acting as a mentor and creative advisor.

For more information about the TROMP Festival and the 2026 Competition, please visit: www.tromppercussion.nl

 

©WFIMC 2025