Ralf Mackenbach

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Wikipedia

Ralf Mackenbach
Mackenbach in 2022
Born
Ralf Johannes Josephus Mackenbach

(1995-10-04) 4 October 1995 (age 30)
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
  • actor
  • plasma physicist
Musical career
GenresPop music
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • drums
Years active2005–present
Scientific career
FieldsApplied physics
Institutions

Ralf Johannes Josephus Mackenbach[1] (born 4 October 1995) is a Dutch plasma physicist, artist and former child singer, best known for winning the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "Click Clack".[2] He is the first and, to date, only Dutch winner of the contest.

Early life

Mackenbach was born in Eindhoven,[1] and grew up in Best, North Brabant.[3] As a child, he starred in the musicals Tarzan and Beauty and the Beast.[4] He attended Amsterdam's dancing academy Lucia Marthas, and studied acting at Centrum voor de Kunsten Eindhoven (CKE) in Eindhoven.[5]

Career

Musical career

In 2009, at the age of thirteen, Mackenbach won the 2009 edition of Junior Songfestival with the song "Click Clack".[6] As a result, he represented the Netherlands in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009, and went on to win the competition with 121 points. "Click Clack" peaked at number 7 in the Dutch Single Top 100.[7] Subsequently, he appeared in the 2010, 2012 and 2022 contests as part of an interval act.[8]

Mackenbach at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Minsk

Mackenbach's debut album Ralf achieved a top 10 spot in the Dutch album charts and entered the Flemish album charts at number 59.[9] In March 2011, it achieved gold status with over 25,000 sales.[10]

In 2011 and 2012, Mackenbach participated in the celebrity contest shows Sterren dansen op het ijs and Sterren springen op zaterdag. He was also a judge on the 2011 edition of the Dutch talent show My Name Is…. In 2019, he appeared as a judge on the Dutch adaptation of All Together Now.[11]

Academic career

After graduating secondary school with a VWO certificate, Mackenbach studied at the Eindhoven University of Technology. In 2019, he finished a master's degree in nuclear fusion, for which he wrote the dissertation Numerical Modelling of Mode Penetration in Cylindrical Geometries Using M3D-C1.[12]

Continuing his studies at the Eindhoven University of Technology, Mackenbach completed his PhD cum laude in November 2023 with a thesis titled Available Energy: A compass for navigating the nonlinear landscape of fusion plasma turbulence.[1] Since 2024, he is a postdoctoral researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).[13]

Discography

Albums

  • Ralf (2010)
  • Moving On (2011)
  • Seventeen (2012)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mackenbach, R. J. J. (2023). Available Energy: A compass for navigating the nonlinear landscape of fusion plasma turbulence (PDF) (PhD thesis). Eindhoven University of Technology. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Netherlands first, Russia second at Junior Eurovision". Kyiv Post. November 23, 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Ralf Mackenbach". ITB Entertainment Group (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Ralf Mackenbach". Theaterencyclopedie. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. ↑ Brandt, Monique (21 November 2009). "Nederland wint Junior Eurovisie Songfestival". Het Parool. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. ↑ Findhammer-Schut, Martine. "Zo gaat het nu met Ralf Mackenback, die in 2009 Junior Eurovisiesongfestival won". Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Ralf - Click Clack". DutchCharts.nl. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Junior Eurovision 2022: 11 Champions will perform in Yerevan!". junioreurovision.tv. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "Ralf - Ralf". DutchCharts.nl. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Debuutalbum Ralf is Goud". Shownieuws. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  11. ↑ Heerkens, Robin. "Ken je 'm nog? Junior Songfestival-winnaar Ralf Mackenbach is nu… ingenieur!". Veronica Superguide. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Mackenbach, R.J.J. "Numerical modelling of mode penetration in cylindrical geometries using M3D-C1". TU/e. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  13. ↑ Barth, Nadia (9 October 2024). ""I am a strong believer in the collaborative nature of research"". EPFL. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  • Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived 30 August 2023)
  • Media related to Ralf Mackenbach at Wikimedia Commons