More than 250 children from three primary schools in Bonaire were introduced to classical music in a unique way this week. Pianist Alexander Kraft van Ermel gave mini-concerts at Rayo di Solo Primary School, Kolegio Strea Briante, and Aquamarin Primary School, where he combined classical music with an authentic Caribbean flavor.
The concerts were organized in collaboration with the Classical Music Board Bonaire and the cultural education program EKADK (Educación Kultural Artístiko di Kalidat). The aim is to introduce children to a type of music not always present on Bonaire. Kraft van Ermel immediately captured the children’s attention with his approachable style and interactive performance.
“The children were very enthusiastic and listened with great focus,” said a spokesperson for the Classical Music Board. “During his performance, Alexander engaged in dialogue with the children, which greatly lowered the barrier to appreciating classical music.”
Caribbean roots in classical music
Alexander Kraft van Ermel (1990) grew up in Curaçao and received his first piano lessons from his mother and later from his great-uncle, the renowned composer and pianist Wim Statius Muller. This Caribbean foundation is a key thread in his musical career. At the age of seventeen, he won second prize at the Scriabin in Paris competition, where jury president Mikhail Voskresensky remarked: “such big music from such a small island.”
Kraft van Ermel has included many classical Antillean compositions in his repertoire and recently released the album Antillean Heritage as a tribute to his great-uncle. His unique blend of classical form with Caribbean influences made the school concerts a special cultural experience for Bonaire’s children.
Cultural education in Bonaire
The mini-concerts are part of the broader EKADK program, which focuses on providing quality cultural education for primary school children in Bonaire. The collaboration with the Classical
Music Board contributes to the goal of exposing children to different musical styles and cultural expressions.
The positive reactions from both students and teachers confirm the importance of initiatives like
this for the cultural development of Bonaire’s youth.
