Eline Hensels (1998)

Eline Hensels began playing the cello at the age of six and grew up in a musical family. She received her first musical training at the Conservatorium of Maastricht with Alexander Petrasch and, in 2012, was admitted to the young talent class of the Sweelinck Academy in Amsterdam, where she studied with Monique Bartels. She further developed under the guidance of, among others, Gustav Rivinius and Pieter Wispelwey. Since 2025, she has continued her studies with the prestigious Konzertexamen at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf.

In October 2018, she won first prize at the Cello Biennale Competition in Amsterdam, as well as the audience award. She has received several awards at festivals such as the Verão Clássico Festival and Erben München. In both 2012 and 2014, Eline won first prize at the Princess Christina Competition.

Eline is active as a soloist and chamber musician. She has performed multiple times at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and has appeared on Dutch television and radio.

In 2020, she made her debut in the Great Hall of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. She also performed as a soloist in Strauss' Don Quixote with the Dutch Symphony Project. In 2022, she was invited to perform with the South Netherlands Philharmonic for the Dutch Royal Family.

She has also performed at festivals such as the Grachtenfestival, Delft Chamber Music Festival, Festival Wonderfeel, Storioni Festival, and Schiermonnikoog Festival.

In 2023, she was appointed Stimmführer (principal cellist) of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. She took masterclasses with Gary Hoffman, Frans Helmerson, and Steven Isserlis at festivals including the Festival Pablo Casals and Verão Clássico.

Her debut album Nocturne et Lumineux, featuring works by Koechlin, Bosmans, and Janáček, was released in 2023 and nominated for an Edison Award in 2024 in the category "Newcomer".