

The winners of 1990 are the Artist in Residence of Charles Hennen 2012. Look for more info www.gouldpianotrio.com . This famous English piano ensemble will give some workshops for selected Charles Hennen participants and there is a concert in Theater Heerlen on friday April 13nd at 20.30h. Look for more info www.parkstadlimburgtheaters.nl en www.gouldpianotrio.com
Starting in 2012 all competitors have to play a 1st and 2nd Round on April 12, 13 and 14. At saturdaynight 14th the four finalists will be announced. Finals are on April 15 at 19.00. SCHUNCK* completed the programm with extra and free Lunchconcerts on April 12,13 and 14 at 12.30, given by competitors. On April 11th SCHUNCK* completes its programm with the surprising night SCHUNCK* NEWSICAL EXPERIENCE #4.
Heerlen welcomed 17 ensembles from 10 countries during the 26th Charles Hennen Competition. These are the winners :
Stringsembles accompanied by piano:
1st Prize: "the Provincie Limburg Prize": NOTOS Quartett (Germany)
2nd Prize: "the Gemeente Heerlen Prize":Ludus Piano Quartet (Russia)
Stringensembles:
1st Prize: "the Provincie Limburg Prijs": Excelsa Quartet (Boston, USA) www.excelsaquartet.com
2nd Prize: "the Gemeente Heerlen Prijs": Vistula String Quartet (Poland)
"EMCY Artprize"
Excelsa Quartet (Boston, USA)
Founded as an extra activity for the 75 year jubilee of Musicschool Heerlen, in the past decades the Charles Hennen Concours(CHC) has grown into one of the most important musical events in Heerlen, and more recently also in Parkstad Limburg. For the fans of chamber music and for the young professional musicians it became an international high position in Europe.
This International Chambermusic Competition for String- and Pianoensembles marks itsself with a high level of music and organization. Recently qualified musicians and almost qualified musicians (young professionals) from all over Europe come to Heerlen every year to include this competition on their personal record. This competition figures prominantly on the calendar of the EMCY-organisation (European Music Competition for Youth). Prizewinners of this competition may perform at big international stages and during big events.
Since 2010 the competition is splitt up in 2 categories : For stringensembles (violin-viola-cello) en stringensembles with piano of 3-4 musicians separate 1st and 2nd prizes will be awarded!
Besides the absolute top of the young professionals CHC also pays attention to the younger agecategories, right up to the more recent students of a musicschool. Quality and level will be preserved by a competent and international jury. Musicians and specialist teachers from all over Europe who will also give a workshop for the participating musicians.
Annually hundreds connoisseurs of music par excellence gather in SCHUNCK* Glaspaleis, Theater Heerlen, Theater Kerkrade and Musicschool Hoensbroek. And since more recent years also in the region of Parkstad, due to the start up of StringsPlus.
The general-interest has increased due to the annual, often live, broadcasts of the classical station Radio 4 and the coverages of the Limburgian tv-stations TV Limburg and L1 TV.