We of the IVC knew Victor van Nederveen Meerkerk as an expert in art song, as a great lover of the human voice, one with a profound connection not simply to the music but also to the poetic texts, and as someone who fully enjoyed the pleasures of life. Since 2000 he had donated the Margie Weideman Prize for Lieder that is awarded during the IVC and in so doing made a great contribution to the importance that the German Lied and art song in general enjoys within the IVC. He spent many thousands of hours listening to music during his lifetime, an impressive feat in itself. He was particularly interested in young singers and supported them in both word and deed. His assiduous and warm commitment to the competition was of immense value and much appreciated. This dedicated and fine human being has now left us.
This year, too, the Margie Weideman Prize is his gift to us. When it is awarded, we shall remember Victor – it will be a sad moment, but one that is filled with memories of him.
