Carrying the Dutch tradition in my heart and soul, I have lived outside my home country for about 20 years. The cultural exchange between Europe and South America has enriched me both musically and as a person. It also made me see that of all great composers, Brahms and Bruckner are the ones that most appeal to me, because of the purity and honesty of their music. In Amsterdam I met Bernard Haitink at a rehearsal with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; for me he has always been the example to follow, my reference, my lead.

In the year 2000 my violin took me to Spain where later I participated in the conducting competition of Cadaquès, where I got to know Sir Neville Marriner. I received his recommendations and in 2005 I made my official debut as an orchestral conductor with the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada.

An exciting moment was my arrival to South America in 2011 for my first concert as a guest conductor in this new continent, with the Orquesta Ciudad de Los Reyes in Lima. Another beautiful memory of South America is the first time I conducted Brahms there; his 2nd symphony with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Loja, Ecuador. First we played it at 2000 meters altitude, and the next day down in the jungle.

During this musical voyage I got to meet and work with great inspiring musicians like Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Uwe Mund, Sarah Chang, Pinchas Zuckerman, Toots Thielemans, Omara Portuonda and many more…

Now, after twenty years back in The Netherlands, I am picking up where I have left of, carrying a suitcase filled with most beautiful experiences…