Flute maker Eva Kingma from Grolloo was appointed Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion on Sunday evening. She received the royal award prior to the closing concert of the Grolloo Flute Sessions.
Eva Kingma is internationally renowned for her craftsmanship and musical innovations. She made a breakthrough in the flute world with the Kingma System. That adds extra valves and fingerings to the flute, allowing the player to play more notes.
Famous flautists such as Emmanuel Pahud, Matthias Ziegler and Sir James Galway play her instruments. Well-known symphony orchestras are also loyal customers, such as members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker. Last week Kingma was in the news because she built the largest flute in the world.
Mayor Anno Wietze Hiemstra of Aa en Hunze presented Kingma with the high distinction during the last evening of the Grolloo Flute Sessions. There, talented flutists from all over the world refine their skills and techniques with the help of top flutists.
Flute Village
According to mayor Hiemstra, Kingma has managed to involve many volunteers from the village in the event. “Grolloo has not only become a Blues Village, but also a Flute Village.” It is not the first time that Kingma has received a special award. In 2018, the flute maker from Grolloo received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association in the United States.