Queen Elisabeth Competition 2022: Cello

As patron of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, dedicated to cello this year, Queen Mathilde will attend several of the concerts.

First Round at Flagey Studios

9 May 2022

Semi Finals at Flagey

16 May 2022

20 May 2022

An extra promo for the competition: Mathilde was offered a mini concert at the Royal greenhouses, by four young cellists who played Metallica's Nothing Else Matters, as arranged by Apocalyptica.
 

Afterwards Mathilde was interviewed by Katelijne Boon on the importance of the competition and of classical music for Mathilde personally.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/05/20/vier-jonge-cellisten-spelen-metallica-voor-koningin-mathilde/

21 May 2022

Mathilde was present for the last concerts in the semi finals and the announcement of the finalists.

Finals at Bozar

30 May 2022

Mathilde was accompanied by her husband for the first finale evening at Bozar. They listened to South Korean Taeguk Mun and Serbian Petar Pejcic.

31 May 2022

Queen Mathilde hosted a lunch for the members of the jury.

In the evening she attended the second finale night, where she listened to Belgian Stéphanie Huang and Estonian Marcel Johannes Kits play.

She was accompanied by the Princess Amaury de Merode, née Nathalie Gillion-Crowet. Amaury de Merode directs the managing committee of Gillion Contruct Group. The couple also organizes the Festival des Minimes, a classical music festival.

1 June 2022

On the third finale evening, Queen Mathilde listened to the performances of Austrian Jeremias Fliedl and South Korean Hayoung Choi. 

2 June 2022

On the fourth finale evening, Queen Mathilde was accompanied by her daughter Princess Eléonore (14).

Eléonore returned home at the break, since she has exams to prepare.

4 June 2022

Queen Mathilde was again accompanied by Princess Eléonore for the final concerts, by South Korean Sul Yoon and Yibai Chen. 

Also present, but very discreet in the royal box was Archduchess Anna-Gabriele of Austria.

The royals had a meeting with De Zes, six young professional cello players who appeal to a younger audience.

Around midnight the winner was announced: Hayoung Choi.

6 June 2022

Queen Mathilde handed out the prizes at the award ceremony held at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Argenteuil.

22 June 2024

Queen Mathilde & King Philippe attended the laureate concert of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for cello at Bozar.

Virginia Gamba

3 June 2022

Queen Mathilde had a meeting at the royal palace with UN Special Representative for Children in Armed Conficts, Virginia Gamba.

BAPS

2 June 2022

Queen Mathilde had a meeting with the Belgian Association of Psychological Sciences (BAPS) for their 75 years of existence, at the Psychologisch Instituut of KU Leuven university. 

Mathilde, herself a trained psychologist addressed young researchers at the Junior BAPS Day. Afterwards they discussed their formation and careers with her. 

"Because of the lockdown and the pervasive feelings of uncertainty resulting from the pandemic, psychologists have had to deal with many manifestations of psychological distress, including high levels of anxiety, depression and eating disorders."

"Over the last two years, psychologists have also embraced a new role. In the media, through their presence in various expert groups and advisory committees, they have become interpreters of the science behind our emotions for a broad audience. They have warned about the threshold of resistance to a prolonged lockdown. And, while doing so, they have constantly underlined the importance of decision-making based on science."

"Within a few weeks, the two Belgian Academies of Medicine will hold a major symposium on the mental health of children and adolescents, an issue very dear to my heart."

"As you know, I am a graduate in psychology and this field has always interested me."

video: https://www.robtv.be/nieuws/hoog-bezoek-in-leuven-koningin-mathilde-spreekt-studenten-ku-leuven-toe-139434

video: https://www.hln.be/leuven/fotospecial-koninklijk-bezoek-in-het-psychologisch-instituut~ac56bf16/

Olena Zelenska + Vlaamse Academie voor Eetstoornissen

31 May 2022

Queen Mathilde had a video conversation with Ukrainian first lady, Olena Zelenska. 

The Queen expressed her solidarity with the Ukrainian people. 

WHO regional director Hans Kluge, who joined them in the conversation: "I am humbled by their joint determination to move mental health collaboration forwards in these challenging times." 

The same day, Mathilde also granted an audience to Dr Annik Simons and Professor Johan Verlinden, president and vice president of the Flemish Academy for Eating Disorders. The number of Belgian young children and teenagers suffering from an eating disorder has dramatically increased the past years. 

It was an extraordinarily busy day, as Mathilde also hosted the traditional lunch for the jury members of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for cello...

... and in the evening she attended the finale concerts, accompanied by the Princess de Merode.