Anne-Maartje Lemereis writes 'Feathers' for the 59th IVC

Anne-Maartje Lemereis, Composer Laureate of the Netherlands, will provide the new commissioned work 'Feathers' (Veren) especially for the 59th International Vocal Competition. This world premiere underscores the IVC's commitment to fostering collaboration between composers and performers, and to showcasing contemporary Dutch music on an international stage.

The roughly five-minute work is written for voice and piano and for voice and symphony orchestra, and is available in three transpositions covering seven voice types. Singers may perform it in either Dutch or English. Sheet music becomes available in May 2026.

The compulsory work will be performed by all forty singers in the Main Rounds with piano accompaniment. From these performances, two singers are nominated to perform it during the Finals on 10 October 2026, accompanied by Philzuid under conductor Karen Kamensek. The Van Amelsvoort Prize (€2,500) is awarded to the singer the jury considers the finest interpreter of the work.

Since 2002, the IVC has commissioned a compulsory vocal work for each competition edition. Previous composers include Micha Hamel, Rob Zuidam, Robin de Raaff, Willem Jeths, Monique Krus and Bart Visman; in 2025, Karmit Fadael composed the compulsory work for the first Theatre in Song edition.