Compulsory Work

The Dutch-Israeli composer Karmit Fadael (1996, Treuchtlingen, Germany) grew up in a small town in the north of the Netherlands. Her musical journey began as a violinist, but in 2012, she discovered composition—somewhat by chance—when she participated in the composition competition of the Dutch Wind Ensemble as part of a (forced) high school assignment. What started as an obligation soon turned into her true calling.

Since then, Fadael has built an impressive body of work, composing for a wide range of ensembles and orchestras. Her music has been commissioned by institutions such as the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/NTR ZaterdagMatinee, the Residentie Orchestra, Amsterdam Sinfonietta/Cello Biënnale, the North Netherlands Orchestra, and Eija Kankaanranta/November Music, among others. She values close collaboration with musicians and continuously seeks ways to connect both performers and audiences through her compositions.

Fadael’s music reflects her personality: emotional, stubborn, rational, yet calm. She believes in working hard, setting clear goals, and maintaining a disciplined approach to composition while also staying intuitive. Her work is often characterized by a minimalist setup with a maximum impact—an approach that has been widely praised by both juries and audiences.

She studied composition at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague (2014–2019), where she was taught by Calliope Tsoupaki, Guus Janssen, and Martijn Padding. She later received frequent coaching from Hans Abrahamsen and Martijn Padding. Additionally, she participated in masterclasses with renowned composers such as Kate Moore, Michael Pisaro, Peter Ablinger, Andrew Hamilton, and Huba de Graaff, and took part in various workshops, including the Dutch Impro Academy, the Young Metropole Orchestra, and a percussion course in Trstenice.

Her talent was recognized early on. In both 2013 and 2014, she won the Young Talent Award in the composition competition of the Dutch Wind Ensemble. In 2018, she was unanimously chosen as the winner of the Tromp Composition Competition for her piece Paringsdans, which the jury described as an “immediate spectacle with minimal setup and maximum effect.” In 2021, she received the Young Composers Stipendium, which included commissions for the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Fuse, with several pieces performed on the Dutch television program Podium Witteman. In 2023, she was awarded the Friese Emmy, leading to a concert series during City Proms Leeuwarden 2024. The following year, in 2024, she received the prestigious Het Gouden Viooltje, a classical music award recognizing her contributions to music in the north of the Netherlands.

With her distinctive and thoughtful musical language, Karmit Fadael continues to develop as one of the most promising composers of her generation.