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Adrianna van Leeuwen

is a Canadian clarinettist specializing in historical instrument performance, particularly of the Classical and early Romantic periods. She has collaborated with many period ensembles both locally within the Netherlands and abroad, for example The Orchestra of the 18th Century and Les Vents Atlantiques Chamber Orchestra. She has also featured in the Young Artist Spotlight at the Saintes Festival (FR) as well as the Fringe Festival in Utrecht (NL). Her passion for chamber music culminated in the founding of the successful ensemble Boxwood & Bows; a trio for clarinet, violin/viola and cello.

Adrianna graduated with distinction from the University of Calgary (CAN), obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in modern clarinet performance.  She  moved to the Netherlands in 2012, to further pursue her music studies in historical performance practice at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Den Haag.  She obtained a second Bachelor’s degree in Historical Clarinet and Chalumeaux in 2016.  And most recently she completed her Master’s degree and thesis under the tutelage of Professor Eric Hoeprich.  The resulting thesis was published on the Research Catalogue, an international database fro artistic research..

Xiangji Zeng Hewitt

baroque violinist / violist, was born in Beijing. She finished her bachelor study of law at Beijing Institute of Technology, and then went to Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, where she studied musicology and violin, completing her master with research in Schubert and his contemporary sonata form.

Inspired by a recording of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, played by Dutch baroque violinist, Lucy van Dael, she moved to the Netherlands to study baroque violin with Lucy at Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag. In addition to solo repertoire, she plays in many early music ensembles, such as Barokensemble Eik en Linde and Concerto Valiante. She co-founded Estehaagse Ensemble, specialized in baroque and classical chamber music on historical instruments, and also works with Shanghai Camerata, the first early music ensemble in China.

She received 3rd Prize and Young Audience Award with ensemble IJ Space at the International Van Wassenaer Competition (Utrecht) in 2018. In the same year, the CD recording ‘Meli Li’, in which she participated with the first Chinese counter tenor, Meli Li, was released by Pacific Audio & Video Co. She played in many early music festivals, such as Utrecht Early Music Festival (2018, 2017) and Boston Early Music Festival (2016, with Ton Koopman, subsequently touring to New York, Den Haag, Leiden and Deventer). Collaborating with English violone player Margaret Urquhart, she played early baroque chamber music at the ‘Zhong Yin’ Double Bass Festival in Beijing (2016). She is also active as a teacher giving summer courses in Beijing.

Xiangji Zeng Hewitt

baroque violinist / violist, was born in Beijing. She finished her bachelor study of law at Beijing Institute of Technology, and then went to Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, where she studied musicology and violin, completing her master with research in Schubert and his contemporary sonata form.

Inspired by a recording of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, played by Dutch baroque violinist, Lucy van Dael, she moved to the Netherlands to study baroque violin with Lucy at Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag. In addition to solo repertoire, she plays in many early music ensembles, such as Barokensemble Eik en Linde and Concerto Valiante. She co-founded Estehaagse Ensemble, specialized in baroque and classical chamber music on historical instruments, and also works with Shanghai Camerata, the first early music ensemble in China.

She received 3rd Prize and Young Audience Award with ensemble IJ Space at the International Van Wassenaer Competition (Utrecht) in 2018. In the same year, the CD recording ‘Meli Li’, in which she participated with the first Chinese counter tenor, Meli Li, was released by Pacific Audio & Video Co. She played in many early music festivals, such as Utrecht Early Music Festival (2018, 2017) and Boston Early Music Festival (2016, with Ton Koopman, subsequently touring to New York, Den Haag, Leiden and Deventer). Collaborating with English violone player Margaret Urquhart, she played early baroque chamber music at the ‘Zhong Yin’ Double Bass Festival in Beijing (2016). She is also active as a teacher giving summer courses in Beijing.

Jenny Lierud

is a baroque cellist and cellist from Stockholm, Sweden. She has a broad spectrum of repertoire, from Swedish folk music to contemporary music, however Early Music has a special place in her heart. She has specialised mainly in baroque music and all it’s richness and variations, with everything from dancing melodies, dramatic and emotional Sarabandes to fiery Allegros, and it always gives her the space and inspiration to express herself musically in new ways.

Jenny enjoys playing as a soloist equally much as playing basso continuo lines, but above all she loves to play chamber music. The interaction with other musicians is one of her most important inspirations, and there are few things that can beat the feeling of joy that she finds together with her fellow musicians.

Jenny is, in addition to Boxwood & Bows, member of ensembles that plays music from different genres and musical eras; the Swedish baroque band Bastard Barock, the Belgium-Swedish quintet Laia Arkestra and the baroque cello -baroque double bass duo No Treble.

Jenny has a bachelor degree of modern cello from Norges Musikkhøgkole in Oslo. After she discovered the wonders of Early Music she studied baroque cello at The Royal College of Music in Stockholm and graduated in 2013. Then she continued to The Hague for studies in Early Music at the Koninklijk Conservatorium with Lucia Swarts, graduating in 2015. Jenny, currently lives in Stockholm and freelances throughout Europe, mostly in The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden. This has given her the opportunity to, in addition to concerts with her own ensembles, play in many different contexts and groups.