Nomination for the Fair Practice Award 2025: Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
- Ramin Amin Tafreshi
- Sep 10, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 17, 2025
I am delighted to share that the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest has been nominated for the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award 2025 for commissioning my orchestral piece Confessions of the Mulberry Tree.
Writing for an orchestra can be challenging. Beyond the music itself, there are logistics, publishing & printing, marketing, and planning; responsibilities that often fall on the composer's shoulders. With Willem de Bordes, artistic director of the Netherlands Philharmonisch Orkest, and his wonderful team, I never felt alone in this process. They took care of those sides so that I could devote myself completely to the music.
We set out to create a project that would resonate with our time and carry a powerful message. From the very beginning, we had in-depth conversations about my new piece, its direction, its aesthetic, and its place within the program. Throughout, I always felt the orchestra’s full support and trust to explore my artistic voice freely. Altogether, our collaboration and my new piece left a strong impact on both premieres. In a review in "De Nieuwe Muze" music magazine, Wenneke Savenije wrote of the program:
“If you then open the programme ‘Music in Turbulent Times’ with the world premiere of an equally terrifying and fascinating orchestral work by the Iranian composer (1992) living in the Netherlands, then you have earned at least five stars for devising a current and meaningful programme.” (De Nieuwe Muze by Wenneke Savenije February 2, 2025 - translated from Dutch)
What made this project truly remarkable was how Willem de Bordes and the orchestra actively sought new ways to connect a passionately alive composer like me with an audience that is curious, appreciative, and eager for new experiences. NedPhO took a bold approach by putting my work in the spotlight: they organized pre- and post-talks and produced a full hour-long Klankcast podcast entirely devoted to my music, ideas, and inspirations. This gave me the rare opportunity to speak directly to the audience and engage with them in a truly meaningful way. I was also invited to introduce my piece on stage at the Concertgebouw in both concerts. And most uniquely, the premiere was professionally recorded, giving the music the chance to continue to live on.
The jury, consisted of Huba de Graaff (composer, board member of Nieuw Geneco, and jury chair), Anthony Fiumara (composer), and Davo van Peursen (director of the Dutch Music Publishers Association) acknowledged this collaboration and explained the nomination as follows:
"The collaboration between Willem de Bordes and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra on the composition Confessions of the Mulberry Tree was described with great praise by composer Ramin Amin Tafreshi. Not only was the fee guideline respected, but there was also an intensive and respectful dialogue that resulted in a work in which the composer could fully express himself. The orchestra members and the artistic leadership actively contributed to an environment where trust, artistic freedom, and fair remuneration went hand in hand. Moreover, the marketing was handled thoroughly. This project convincingly demonstrates how large institutions can put fair practice into action."
Read the full report here:
For me, this collaboration was truly a model of fair practice and artistic freedom, and I am very grateful to Nieuw Geneco for recognizing it and shedding light on such a collaboration.
Here is the recording of "Confessions of the Mulberry Tree," premiered by the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest under the direction of Gemma New.
