Joshua Herwig (2000) is a versatile cellist, artist, and composer whose love for music began to blossom at a young age in a home filled with melodies and inspiring musicians. At the age of five, Joshua started playing the cello, and by the time he was ten, he was already a member of the Britten Youth String Orchestra, where he served as the leader of the cellos from 2016 to 2019. Joshua has garnered multiple awards in classical competitions, including 1st and 3rd prizes at the Princes Christina competition and a 2nd prize at the Herman Krebbers Competition. He has also taken masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Gavriel Lipkind, Johannes Moser, Markus Stockhausen, and Oene van Geel. Furthermore, Joshua has collaborated with inspiring musicians, including Ella Zirina, Vince Mendoza, Daniel Rowland, and Karina Cannelakis.
Composition
From a young age, Joshua had a deep passion for composition and improvised music, which led him to create his own compositions. His music fuses elements from jazz, classical, and folk genres. Joshua draws inspiration from composers and artists like Brad Mehldau, Lorenzo Bernini, Sergei Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel, and Miles Davis.
Woodcraft
In 2016, Joshua co-founded "WOODCRAFT" with four friends and fellow string enthusiasts. This ensemble has been a platform for his creative expression and experimentation, allowing him to bring his adventurous and absurdist compositions to life with a captivating groove. In 2022, Woodcraft achieved both the First Prize and the Audience Choice Award at the "Dutch Jazz Competition" held at the Bimhuis. Their debut album, "WOODCRAFT," was released in April 2023.
Joshua is currently studying classical and jazz cello under the guidance of Mick Stirling, Ella van Poucke, and Jeffrey Bruinsma at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.