Nienke van Rijn (1974) studied the violin with Jaring Walta at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, achieving an honours degree as Performing Musician in 1998. She has had additional lessons with Herman Krebbers, Thomas Brandis, Jaap van Zweden and Raphael Hillyer (Juilliard String Quartet). She became a prizewinner of the Davina van Wely violin competition. Already at a young age she appeared as a soloist with many orchestras. Since September 2001 Nienke van Rijn has been employed on a permanent basis by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra as first violin. She also regularly performs with the Combattimento Consort Amsterdam. Nienke van Rijn plays a violin by Alexander Gagliano from 1706. Performed at the Festival in 2006, 2007, 2010.