About
On hearing the oboe for the first time, I knew I was an oboist: the sound goes right to the heart.
I had my first oboe lessons at the local music school in my home town of Sneek, in Friesland, the Netherlands and went on to study at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and HKU University of the Arts Utrecht. For several years I have taken lessons with baroque specialist, Frank de Bruine, to hone my playing of historical instruments.
At present I play regularly for the Promenade Orkest and the Laurens Bachorkest. I have also performed with the Marinierskapel der Koninklijke Marine, the Orkest van het Oosten, the Gelders Orkest, the Brabants Orkest and the Residentie Orkest. I often play in cantata services, on historical as well as modern instruments, both in The Netherlands and abroad, for example with the Residentie Bachorkest and Camerata Delft, amongst others. I have also taken part in the production Zwier, performed by the Ensemble Wervelwind, which brings musical theatre to younger people under the banner: “Fresh music for a young audience!”
My collection of oboes currently contains eight instruments, which enables me to always choose an instrument best suited to a certain style or period. The number of keys for example varies enormously, as instruments differ through the eras, which affects fingering. And yes, for all these instruments I make my own reeds and adjust embouchure.
Apart from my work as a practicing musician I teach music at local music schools in Gouda and Alphen aan den Rijn. Besides music, I studied philosophy at the University of Amsterdam and on top of that, I’m a devoted runner, chess player, cook and lover of literature.