fuse #about
Meet the members and read about our origins. For promotional materials please contact us.
With their bold approach to string music and exciting stage presence, Fuse is a one-to-watch formation on the cutting edge of Dutch musical life. This Amsterdam sextet has been showing outstanding instrumental and artistic talent and performed over 600 shows in nearly 6 years, at a wide range of stages, festivals, concert halls and theaters in the Netherlands and abroad. The group headlined stages such as the The Concertgebouw, Wonderfeel festival, Classical:Next and SAIL, reaching audiences from 200 up to 30.000 people
Fuse’ original line-up (string quartet, double bass and percussion) enables them to develop a unique melting pot of styles and genres. Their approach results in a qualitative and sincere crossover experience that reflects the divers stylistic backgrounds of the band. Influences from classical music, jazz, folk and minimal music are organically present in their signature arrangements and attractive improvisations.
Fuse finds their origin in the Neo-Classical underground scene in Amsterdam. Between 2012-2014 they organized monthly club-nights named ConFuse, which gained them popularity among a diverse audience and became an important kick-of for the young ensemble. In 2015, Fuse was invited to become a regular guest on popular TV-show Podium Witteman; a weekly live broadcast about music in which Fuse performs and presents their favorite music. It marked their breakthrough to the general public. The group appeared multiple times on Dutch daily talkshows and featured on public radio, in newspapers and magazines. Since 2016 Fuse’ released two studio albums containing music by Béla Bartók, Chris Thile, Nils Frahm, JacobTV, Frank Zappa, Maurice Ravel, Manuel de Falla, Michel Petrucciani among others. Both albums received nominations for a Dutch Edison Award and in 2019 Fuse won the Edison Classical Public Choice Award.
Fuse: Julia Philippens (violin), Emma van der Schalie (violin), Mascha van Nieuwkerk (cello),
Adriaan Breunis (viola), Tobias Nijboer (doublebass), Daniel van Dalen (percussion).
Het verhaal van Fuse is een avontuurlijke reis met muzikale grensverkenning en een onuitputtelijke drang tot zelfontplooiing. Voor kijkers van het tv-programma Podium Witteman behoeft Fuse vrijwel geen introductie meer. Het Amsterdamse zestal is een vaste toevoeging aan het format en laat al jaren hun veelzijdigheid zien in de muzikale liveshow over klassieke muziek en verwante genres. Maar minder mensen kennen de route die Fuse sinds 2012 heeft afgelegd: honderden optredens; van donkere clubs en serene kerken, tot festivalweides en concertgebouwen. De uren op het podium, onder de televisielampen en experimenterend in hun repetitiehok zitten inmiddels in het DNA van Fuse gesleten. Het maakt de groep virtuoos en aanstekelijk op elkaar ingespeeld. Waar ze ook staan: Fuse neemt het publiek in no-time mee in hun eigen muzikale wereld. Een wereld waarin je sporen vindt van klassieke muziek, jazz, volksmuziek, minimal music en improvisaties die van elk optreden een unieke ervaring maken
Het podium is voor Fuse altijd een plek voor experiment geweest, geen concert is hetzelfde. Toch hebben ze hun favoriete muziek vastgelegd op albums Studio en Studio 2. Hierop staat muziek die Fuse in de afgelopen jaren het meest is bijgebleven en heeft gevormd; een eigenwijze verzameling stijlen en genres met een herkenbare eigen sound. Beide albums ontvingen een nominatie voor een Edison en in 2019 werd de nominatie ingelost met het winnen van de Edison Klassiek Publieksprijs.
“Virtuoos, technisch begaafd en vooral tot op het merg muzikaal”
– Haarlems Dagblad
“Nederlands meest veelzijdige ensemble”
– Het Concertgebouw
“Fuse heeft dat geheimzinnige ‘meer’ dat je niet kunt zien”
– NRC
“Fuse is synoniem voor muzikaal avontuur”
– Klassieke Zaken magazine
“Fuse blaast klassiek nieuw leven in”
– Paul Witteman
Fuse: Julia Philippens (viool), Emma van der Schalie (viool), Mascha van Nieuwkerk (cello),
Adriaan Breunis (altviool), Tobias Nijboer (contrabas), Daniel van Dalen (percussie).
fuse #Squad
origins
Emma, Julia and Mascha founded Fuse in 2012, after they got befriended at the Amsterdam Conservatory, while studying classical- and jazz music. “We started off as a collective of musicians that share interest in all kinds of music. Our main goal: play all the music we love, no matter what background or tradition it represents.”
To get things started, the group organized their own concert series titled ConFuse. In two years, nine editions took place, at an underground nightclub in Amsterdam. ConFuse became a creative playground for the young ensemble; experimenting with all kinds of musical genres and performing arts. Fuse worked with over 150 artists; dancers, musicians, actors, comedians, storytellers, musicians, painters and performed over 120 pieces of music. It was the perfect way for gaining the nessessary experience and motivation to kickstart an exciting endevour. During this period the group also found it’s final shape with the joining of Adriaan (viola) Tobias (doulebass) and Daniel (percussion)
“We started off as a collective of musicians that share interest in all kinds of music. Our main goal: play all the music we love.”
Some highlights [2012-2019]
Amsterdam Canal Festival
Wonderfeel festival
Royal Concertgebouw TRACKS series
Royal Concertgebouw Robeco SummerNights series
World Harbour Days
SAIL Amsterdam
Classical:Next International showcase festival
Buma Classical Convention showcase festival
Detect Classical Festival (GER)
Reuring festival
Vondelpark Openluchttheater
De Kleine Komedie
Deventer Schouwburg
Muziekgebouw Eindhoven
Uitmarkt Amsterdam
Leeuwarden Proms
Zeeland Nazomerfestival
Theaters Tilburg
Philharmonie Haarlem
Nieuwe Kerk Den Haag
Festival Classique
Carré Amsterdam
Oranjewoud Festival
origins
Emma, Julia and Mascha founded Fuse in 2012, after they got befriended at the Amsterdam Conservatory, while studying classical- and jazz music. “We started off as a collective of musicians that share interest in all kinds of music. Our main goal was to play all the music we love, no matter what background or tradition it represents.”
To get things started, the group organized their own concert series titled ConFuse. In two years, nine editions took place, at an underground nightclub in Amsterdam. ConFuse became a creative playground for the young ensemble; experimenting with all kinds of musical genres and performing arts. Fuse worked with over 150 artists; dancers, musicians, actors, comedians, storytellers, musicians, painters and performed over 120 pieces of music. It was the perfect way for gaining the nessessary experience and motivation to kickstart an exciting endevour. During this period the group also found it’s final shape with the joining of Adriaan (viola) Tobias (doule bass) and Daniel (percussion)
“We started off as a collective of musicians that share interest in all kinds of music. Our main goal: play all the music we love.”
Some highlights [2012-2018]
Amsterdam Canal Festival
Wonderfeel festival
Royal Concertgebouw TRACKS series
Royal Concertgebouw Robeco SummerNights series
World Harbour Days
SAIL Amsterdam
Classical:Next International showcase festival
Buma Classical Convention showcase festival
Reuring festival
Vondelpark Openluchttheater
De Kleine Komedie
Deventer Schouwburg
Muziekgebouw Eindhoven
Uitmarkt Amsterdam
Leeuwarden Proms
Zeeland Nazomerfestival
Theaters Tilburg
Philharmonie Haarlem
Nieuwe Kerk Den Haag
Festival Classique
Carré Amsterdam
Oranjewoud Festival