EU Recognition for Festival Programmes

Simon Murphy has been the artistic director and programmer of the classical stage of the Netherlands' Embassy Festival since the festival's inception, 5 years ago. This year, the festival received the EU's EFFE status, a new seal of quality for remarkable, European festivals offering unique and high-quality experiences.

Headed by Sir Jonathan Mills, the award's jury praised the consistency in quality and in the artistic choices made in programming both established and emerging artists.

Murphy's festival programmes have seen Dutch harpist Lavinia Meijer through to Swedish trombonist Karin Hammar take to the stage. This year, Slovenian mezzo soprano Barbara Kozelj headlines Murphy's line-up.