SOUND SCULPTOR

Composer's Biography

I had my education mainly in the Netherlands, where I started art school in Den Bosch at the age of 17. Have made art installations and environments and exhibitions of large books and 'experience machines'. My works have been purchased and commissioned by museums, private art collectors and the Dutch Government.

A few immature compositions date from those years. Meanwhile I played guitars and drums in several Punk bands. During and after art school I made a range of musical instruments which I used in tape compositions and gradually started writing music. At that time I was studying cello and percussion as well. In 1985 I enrolled at the Utrecht Conservatorium of Music at the composition department and studied with David Porcelijn. I continued my studies in 1987 at the Rotterdam Conservatorium of Music with Klaas de Vries. I undertook minor studies in double bass and piano as well.. I graduated in 1993. Although I am not a fast writer (an avarage of one piece per year) and I tend to rework pieces frequently, my works have been performed throughout the world: Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Japan, U.S.A., Hungary, Australia, Korea, Mexico and Chech Republic. And commissioned and performed by major orchestras and ensembles like the Residentie Orchestra The Hague, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Holland Sinfonia, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Meridian Arts Ensemble New York. Reinbert de Leeuw, David Porcelijn, Etienne Siebens, Lucas Vis and Jac van Steen amongst others have conducted my works. I am living in Sydney since January 2005.

For various pieces throughout my work I have designed additional instruments to be played by my performers. For instance in Black Wind I designed footslaps, to be played by all string players. The footslap consists of two boards of 50 cm length connected with a hinge. The top board is connected to the foot of the musician by Velcro (hook and loop). All memebers of the string orchestra have a Triangle suspended from their desks. At the beginning and end of the piece I used wind chimes that are accelerated by huge wind fans on either side of the stage. My recent works tend to incorporate other art disciplines either by collaborating with other artists, or by engaging theatrical or visual elements.

In Sydney I took on designing Sound Sculptures and Musical Instruments for playgrounds and public areas since early 2008. Creating a bridge to my earlier training and life as a visual artist.