EYMW 2026 Student Report: Emily Chapple
EYMW has become my safe space to take risks, be creative and rediscover why I love music.
Welcome to Ede
EYMW 2026 took us to Ede in the Netherlands for another week of stunning and eclectic music, new experiences and friendships from across Europe.
Arriving at the station next to the venue, it was so exciting to see people with instrument cases and realise that we were all heading to the same place!
As a returning musician, one of the things I looked forward to most was reuniting with friends from previous courses. There’s nothing quite like seeing people again who live in different countries and picking up where you left off.
That, for me, is one of the most special things about EYMW.
Making Music Together
The variety of music we explored during EYMW 2026 was incredible. Alongside the full orchestra, we performed in chamber orchestras, wind and string orchestras and smaller ensembles.
This year I split my time between a wind quintet and a flute quartet, bringing together four different nationalities. It was amazing to see how much new music I could learn, understand and eventually perform.
The course’s tradition of switching seats for each piece also gives everyone the opportunity to take on leadership roles and perform solos. I found the first flute seat terrifying during my first course, but the support and encouragement from my friends, fellow musicians and staff have given me so much more confidence.
That support is a huge part of what makes EYMW feel like a family.
Beyond the Rehearsal Room
Of course, EYMW is about much more than music.
One of my highlights of 2026 was our trip to Utrecht, where we had an afternoon to explore the city. I loved discovering hidden gardens, buying my own Miffy and visiting Broese, one of the Netherlands’ largest bookshops.
Back at the course, the evenings brought their own adventures - from jazz night and fierce games of Cards Against Humanity to Anything Can Happen Wednesday, which genuinely lived up to its name with a triangle competition!
And, of course, there was karaoke.
The Final Concert
After five days of rehearsals, we finally had the chance to perform our programme for an audience.
We opened with the powerful Mars from Holst’s The Planets, heard an incredible concerto from our horn player Finn with the strings, and finished with Márquez’s Danzón No. 2.
The energy during the final piece was completely infectious.
At the same time, the final concert is always emotional. We know that it is the last time we'll create music together in quite the same way.
Why EYMW 2026 Will Stay With Me
I first came to EYMW in 2023, shortly after graduating from my music degree. I was looking for something that would continue to challenge and inspire me, while reminding me why I had chosen music as a career.
Three years later, EYMW 2026 has reinforced exactly why I keep coming back.
It has become my safe space - somewhere I can take risks, be creative and continue developing as a musician. More importantly, it has given me an ever-growing support network of exceptionally kind and encouraging musicians from across Europe, many of whom I am lucky enough to call my friends.
Less sleep, more music, countless memories - and another EYMW I’ll never forget.
Emily
