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Mezzo-soprano and HKU Alumnus Tania Kross receives Johannes Vermeerprijs 2023

  • 27 September 2023
Mezzo-soprano and HKU Alumnus Tania Kross received the prestigious Johannes Vermeerprijs 2023. Kross is also given a sum of 100.000 euros, to be spent on a special project within her professional field.
Mezzo-soprano and HKU Alumnus Tania Kross receives Johannes Vermeerprijs 2023
The Johannes Vermeerprijs, introduced in 2009, is a prize from the Dutch Government that is handed out each year to a talented artist. The jury is wildly enthusiastic about Kross, as is expressed in their commentary: ''''Because of her leading international singing career and innovative way of making opera widely accessible to a diverse audience, who she connects and inspires.”

HKU Fellow

Kross was born on Curaçao and moved to the Netherlands to study vocals at Utrechts Conservatorium. During her studies, she already stood out by winning multiple contests. After graduating, she received various awards, among which the 'NPS Culture Prize 2000' and the 'Cristina Deutekom Concours'. She always maintained close ties with Utrechts Conservatorium, by starting a three-year Fellowship. As HKU Fellow, Kross focused on entrepreneurship for students through offering them workshops.

Although she already achieved a lot, Kross hasn’t stopped dreaming big. She announced to Dutch national newspaper NRC that she desires to build an opera hall in Curaçao with the financial sum that comes with the award. Kross: “What I’d like to do most, is take the 100,000 to a Home Depo store and start building the opera hall tomorrow, which Curaçao has been lacking for decades.”