Kurt Falzon May 27, 2025. Who among the fans still remembers the young Kurt Falzon from Malta, who was in Maastricht in 2011 with his mother Marcette Laferla, and who got an autograph from André on his violin? In 2021 tKurt came to the Conservatory in The Hague, Holland, which happens to be Ruud and Ineke’s hometown. During the 4 years he lived in The Hague and took violin lessons at the Royal Conservatory “AMARE”. On May 27th 2025 he successfully completed his Final Bachelor Recital cum laude, in the presence of seven family members from Malta. Ruud and Ineke had also come to experience this milestone. Kurt intends to continue studying at the Conservatory in Amsterdam, to get his Master’s degree. Good luck Kurt, you are a star!!

The Hague, Holland. Music Theatre and Royal Conservatory building: “AMARE”. (Facade decoration: tuning forks.)

Celebrating Kyle’s 30th birthday in Maastricht.

In 2024 Ruud and Ineke self-published a booklet (in English and Dutch), about their memories of 25 years of friendships all over the world, through the music of André Rieu. In this booklet we have dedicated a chapter to Kyle Craft from California, USA. (If you are interested we still have a few copies available, click HERE for more information). Soon after publishing, on April 29, 2024, Kyle put the following comment on the Facebook group “André Rieu fan site the Harmony Parlor”: “I was so happy to receive this new fabulous book last week in the mail. Thank you Ineke, for putting this together and featuring me in it. I am very honored to be one of the featured fans and wanted to say a few words about it. As a little boy I was inspired to play the violin, after listening to Strauss waltzes at 2 years old, I started studying violin at 3 years old. It wasn’t until André came into my life 20 years ago, that I took music then seriously. Never in my life would I have imagined that I would not only have met him, followed my dream, but have made some really close friends through his music, who I proudly call my André-family. It is very true what Ineke wrote about me being different. I remember those days as a shy closeted gay boy looking for acceptance and yes, I felt like Europeans and Aussies were more accepting. I clearly remember telling Mrs. Ed (Edwina) and then her response was gold: “Yeah, we all know. LOL”. And Isabel’s: “Kween a girl’s best friend is a gay guy”. The day/night in San Jose (2017) that I met Mrs. Ed, Liz, John, Bobbie, Ruth, Jim, Kay, Jennifer, Barbara, Bill, Ruud and Ineke, was magical after all the chatting we had. I was so exited to be featured on the soap series “Welcome to my world”. Meeting André was so unexpected. He was so kind to go out of his way, to not only sign my violin, but also speak to me. The most precious moment of that was when he told me: “You are to practice your scales, etudes and waltzes every day”, which I obviously do. After I told him that I was inspired by Strauss waltzes to play the violin and you (meaning he) made me the musician I am today, he had the biggest smile on his face I have ever seen. Now, almost 6 years later, my dream is coming true. I am not only playing in several symphonies and my production “An Afternoon in Vienna” has taken off, I had the pleasure to perform for the first time last in Vienna on a cruise ship on the Danube. What a dream come true. Thanks to the Maestro and my André-family across the globe.”