About
Wybe Kooijmans received his first piano lessons at the age of 8 from the organist Rutger van Mazijk. A few years later he exchanged the piano for the organ and received lessons from Haite van der Schaaf at the United Muzieklycea in Hilversum, who also prepared him for his entrance exam for the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. Bernard Bartelink became his teacher here. After graduating, he attended the master class for interpretation and improvisation by the world-famous French organist Jean Guillou several times. In the meantime Wybe Kooijmans worked as an organist at various churches in the Gooi region. In 1987 an appointment followed as - then - one of the organists of the Grote Kerk in Naarden; now he is chief organist there. A former registrant of the organist Feike Asma gave Wybe many, welcome advice. He made several CD recordings on the monumental Witte organ (1862) of the Grote Kerk in Naarden. In 1994 he made the first recording of the recently completed Pels & Van Leeuwen organ in the "Frits Philips" concert hall in Eindhoven.
Wybe Kooijmans regularly gives organ concerts in the Netherlands; moreover he performed in the Czech Republic, Germany, France, England, Canada and Russia, where he initiated the organ of the Philharmonie in Novosibirsk. He has also gained extensive experience as a accompanist to many choirs and soloists. He is affiliated with the choir of the Nederlandse Händelvereniging, the Concertkoor Baarn and the Vocaal Ensemble Fioretto. Under his editors appeared in the series "Musica Selecta" a dozen volumes with unpublished (versions of) coral adaptations of Feike Asma. He was also a member of the "Singing Believing" work group for several years and published some choral arrangements for organ. In 2014, he cooperated in the television programs "Hidden past", "Push the red button" and "Messiah Masterclass".