Musicians that have participated in the Atlas Ensemble

Dai Ya
(dizi/xun, China) Dizi performer Dai Ya is an associate professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and a member of the Chinese Musicians’ Association. He was born in 1964 in Zhejiang, and learned to play the dizi at the age of seven. He became a pupil of the famous dizi master and teacher Zhao Songting and enrolled in the Zhejiang school of the Arts. In 1981, he won the first prize at the Spring of West Lake Dizi competition and was assigned to the Hangzhou Song and Dance Troupe to be a solo performer in 1986. He entered the Central Conservatory of Music where he was trained under virtuosi Zeng Yongqing and Liu Guanyue etc. Upon graduation in 1990, he stayed on at the Conservatory to teach in 1997 he attended the Post-graduate Course for Outstanding Performers organized by the Ministry of Culture, graduating in 2000. Dai gave his first dizi solo recital at the Beijing Concert Hall in 1991. Since then, he has given many solo recitals and concerts in Sweden, the U.K., Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei, and has shared the stage with the Sweden National Symphony orchestra, the Aditty String Quartet, all major orchestras in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei. He is an acclaimed artist at home and abroad. Dai is a winner of many prizes and awards. He came first at the First Folk Instrumental Music Televison Grand Prix in April, 1989, the International Folk Instrumental Music Solo Competition in May, 1995, and the Third Folk Instrumental Combo Competition held in Taipei in June 1995. He is also the only winner to have won the championship for three consecutive years at the Folk Music Competition in China.




Kudsi Erguner (ney, Turkey) lebt und arbeitet als Musiker, Komponist, Musikwissenschaftler, Lehrer, Autor und Übersetzer in Paris. Erguner stammt aus einer türkischen Musikerfamilie und wurde durch den Kontakt mit zahlreichen bekannten Musikern der älteren Generation, die in seinem Elternhaus verkehrten, sowie seine Besuche verschiedener Sufi-Bruderschaften, deren Musik und Lehre er studierte, entscheidend geprägt. Seine Ausbildung erhielt er direkt von seinem Vater, Ulvi Erguner, dem letzten großen Meister der ney. Durch seine Konzertreisen und Auftritte bei großen Festivals in der ganzen Welt, seine Forschungsarbeiten in Indien, Pakistan und der Türkei, die Gründung diverser Musikensembles und die Einspielung zahlreicher Platten sowie durch seine Zusammenarbeit mit so bekannten europäischen Künstlern wie Peter Gabriel (Passion, US), Maurice Béjart, Peter Brook, Georges Aperghis, Didier Lockwood, Michel Portal, u.a. hat er maßgeblich dazu beigetragen, daß nahezu vergessene traditionelle Musikrichtungen dokumentiert, wiederbelebt und dem westlichen Publikum nahegebracht wurden und so einen festen Platz im kulturellen Erbe Europas fanden.

> more about Kudsi Erguner


Harrie Starreveld (flutes, The Netherlands) studied flute with Koos Verheul at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. Today Harrie Starreveld is widely regarded as one of the worlds leading specialists in contemporary flute music, working with composers such as Carter, Donatoni, Ferneyhough, Yun, Boulez, Crumb, Harvey, Tan Dun, Loevendie, Weddington and Ton de Leeuw. He is a member of the Nieuw Ensemble since 1982. Together with René Eckhardt and bass-clarinetist Harry Sparnaay he forms Het Trio. As a soloist he performed a large number of flute concertos and worked with conducters such as Ernest Bour, Hans Vonk, Arturo Tamayo and Reinbert de Leeuw. Since 1980, Starreveld has been professor of flute at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and Bremen, regularly gives masterclasses all over the world. He won the prestigious Edison award in 1993 for his CNM Ton de Leeuw-CD and worked at the computer music studios of IRCAM in Paris.


Shi Haibin (suona/guanzi, China) was born in 1975 in Yangquan of Shanxi Province. He entered Shanxi Local Traditional Opera School when he was 13. In 1994, he entered the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and studied under the guidance of professor Chen Jiaqi, the famous suona performer and pedagogue. He also obtained the instruction from the famous suona performers Ren Tongxiang and Liu Bingchen. Shi Haibin studied diligently and pursued the art of suona performance both intensively and extensively. Winning various performance contest awards as a student, he successfully did his personal concert in 1997. His performance was highly praised when he performed in Hong Kong, Macao and Japan. Shi Haibin was named by the Ministry of Culture as Excellent Graduate when he graduated in 1998. His superb skill of performance, outstanding expression and profound understanding of the art make him a rare talent of contemporary suona performers. Shi Haibin presently teaches at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.




Gevorg Dabaghian (duduk, Armenia), born in 1965 in Yerevan, Armenia, is among the most prominant duduk players today. He continues the work of his predecessors who left their unique heritage in the history of folk music. Dabaghian is one of the first virtuosos to perform excerpts from the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian church on the duduk, an instrument developed nearly 1500 years ago. He is especially famous for his interpretations of the works by Sayat Nova, and for his performances of traditional Armenian folk music.
Gevorg Dabaghyan studied at the Yerevan State Conservatory, where he now teaches. In addition, he is the leader of the Shoghaken Folk Ensemble. He cooperates with renowned musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma and Jan Garbarek. In 2001 Dabaghian participated in "The World's Multi-Voice", an international music project in Moscow. The project had the purpose to unite the artistry of folk instrumentalists of different countries. Here Dabaghian played a duet with violinist Gidon Kremer. This was not unusual: the duduk, which has 3000-4000 years of history, still continues to be heard as an instrument that makes sounds of love and beauty, kindness and joy.




Raphaela Danksagmüller (duduk/blokfluit, Oostenrijk) voltooide haar studie blokfluit aan de Wiener Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst cum laude, waarna ze aan het Conservatorium van Amsterdam haar solodiploma behaalde. Als soliste en lid van verschillende ensembles concerteert ze regelmatig in Europa, de Verenigde Staten en Azië. Raphaela Danksagmüller was eerder ook te gast bij het Nieuw Ensemble. Ze kreeg prijzen in het internationale Blokfluitsymposium in Calw, het Brugge Oude Muziek Concours, in Duitsland en het Gaudeamus Concours. In 2002 doceerde Danksagmüller aan de Hochschule der Künste in Berlijn. Sinds 2002 heeft ze de studie van de Armeense duduk opgevat bij Gevorg Dabaghian. Als dudukspeelster maakt zij deel uit van het Atlas Ensemble en ensemble Ziggurat.


Ernest Rombout (musette/hobo/althobo) studeerde hobo aan de Musikhochschule in Freiburg bij Heinz Holliger. Hij slaagde cum laude en volgde daarna lessen bij Maurice Bourgue en Nikolaus Harnoncourt. In 1983 maakte hij zijn debuut als solist in het Concertgebouw te Amsterdam. Sindsdien trad hij op met gerenommeerde orkesten en ensembles zoals het Radio Sinfonie Orchester Berlijn, de Wiener Streichersolisten, het Praags Kamerorkest, het Residentie Orkest en Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam. Geïnspireerd door zijn spel schreven jonge componisten, onder wie Luca Francesconi, Claudio Ambrosini en David del Puerto, nieuwe werken voor hem. Ernest Rombout sinds 1985 hoofdvakdocent hobo aan het Utrechts Conservatorium en geeft regelmatig masterclasses en workshops. In 1998 nam hij zitting in de jury van het internationale hoboconcours van Genève.
Ernest Rombout maakt sinds 1985 deel uit van het Nieuw Ensemble.


Yang Shoucheng (sheng, China) was born in Shanxi Province. He graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1983 and worked there till now. Yang is an associate professor at the Ethnic Music Department of the Central Conservatory of Music, a member of the Institute for Beijing Musicians and a member of the Institute for China Ethnic Orchestral Music. Yang studied sheng with the famous performer and teacher Zhang Zhi Liang and with Mr. Yan Hai Deng. In his early years of studying, Yang fully, systematically and accurately inherited the genre, performance skills and major opuses of the masters. In the following years of performance and teaching, Yang studied other genres in order to be a performer of the highest level. Yang Soucheng has participated in concerts throughout China and in Asia, Europe and the US. He has also participated in many music festivals and art activities. Yang has recorded solo and ensemble programs, which were published in China and abroad.



Wu Wei (sheng, China/Germany) was born in 1970 in the Southeast-China Province of Jiangsu and was taught the Chinese violin erhu since the age of five. At the age of 15 he started studying the mouth-organ sheng at the Art Academy of Nanjing and from 1989 till 1993 he continued his study at the international renowned Music Conservatory of Shanghai. In 1993 he became sheng-soloist in the internationally famous Orchestra of Classical Chinese Music Shanghai. Wu Wei can be heard on numerous CD recordings. Concert tours through China, Japan, USA and Europe opened his ear for non-Chinese music traditions. His first projects with European musicians in Shanghai acquainted him with the practice of jazz and new music. In 1995 Wu Wei moved to Berlin, where he broadened his music-horizon by studying Western Jazz traditions and cooperating with musicians of various cultures andmusical styles. Since 1993 Wu Wei appears as soloist or ensemble member in countless international concert venues and many renowned festivals.

 

> more about Wu Wei


Naomi Sato (sho, Japan)werd in 1975 in Tokyo geboren. Zij studeerde saxofoon bij Nobuya Sugawa (Japan), Arno Bornkamp (Nederland) en Claude Delangle (Frankrijk). Daarnaast studeerde ze sho aan de Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music bij Ko Ishikawa. In 1998 rondde zij haar studie aan de Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music af, in 2002 haar tweede fase opleiding af aan het Conservatorium van Amsterdam. In Nederland trad ze met de sho op met fluitist Harrie Starreveld, saxofonist Olivier Sliepen, de componisten Theo Loevendie en Merlijn Twaalfhoven en het Ives Ensemble. Naomi Sato was halve finaliste van de tweede internationale Adolphe Sax Concours in Dinant (1998) en won de derde prijs in het Saxophon Wettbewerb Gustav Bunke in Hannover (1999). Ze speelde onder meer met het Filharmonisch Orkest van de Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music en het Residentie Orkest.


Arjan Kappers (bass clarinet, The Netherlands), studied clarinet, bass clarinet and music education at the Amsterdam Conservatory. He is one of the founders of the Nieuw Ensemble. Teaching at the Amsterdam Academy for Theater, he started composing music for drama and dance, as well as concert music. Since 1980 he is a senior clarinet teacher at the Alkmaar Conservatory.


Zhang Qiang (pipa, China) was born in Xian in Shaanxi Province. He began pipa lessons with his father, Zhang Dihua, at the age of nine. In 1987, he graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he studied in the Ethnic Music Department with Wu Junsheng, Kuang Yuzhong, Li Guanghua and Chen Zemin. Over the years, Zhang has integrated traditional folk music with modern consciousness, innovatively blending Chinese and Western music. He collaborated with many composers and conductors at home and abroad, performing with the Chinese Symphony Orchestra, Central Opera Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Nieuw Ensemble and Brooklyn Philharmonic. Zhang has won numerous accolades for his virtuoso skills and has performed throughout China, Asia, Europe and America. He has participated in the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Macau International Music Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the Tanglewood Contemporary Music Festival. He is an associate professor in the Ethnic Music Department of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.




Wang Di (liuqin/ruan, China) was born in Shenyang in 1982. At the age of six, she started playing the liuqin and the ruan ('moon guitar'). When she was eight years old, she won the gold medal of the Northern Region Competition, at the age of nine the gold medal of the Northern Cities Competition. In 1995 she was admitted to the Central Conservatory in Beijing, to study with Hongyi Wang and Yang Xu, both famous musicians. In 1996 she won the Second National Talent Competition at the conservatory, in 1998 the National Longyin Cup, in 2000 she was first at the National Callan Competition of Performers and in 2001 she won the First TianTian Cup for Performing Musicians. While still a student, Wang Di was appointed first liuqin player of the Chinese National Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed abroad several times.


Elchin Nagijev (tar, Azerbaidjan) was born in 1966 in the Neftchala district in Azerbaijan. He studied his instrument, the tar, at the College for Professional Music from 1982 to 1986 and continued his studies from 1986 to 1993 at the Baku Music Academy. Elchin Nagijev regularly works with kamancha player Elshan Mansurov and is a widely acclaimed performer of the mugam. Presently he is a teacher himself at the Baku Music Academy, responsible for the mugam classes.




Fatih Ahiskali (‘ud, Turkey) was born in Antalya in 1976. He graduated from Istanbul Technical University State Conservatuary in 2000. Besides Turkish Classical music, he has studied classical music, flamenco and jazz. Fatih Ah&Mac245;skal&Mac245; plays the ud in bands like Asia Minor and Yeni Türkü and has performed in the United States, Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Spain. He has also composed music for documentary films and serials.




Hans Wesseling (mandolin, The Netherlands) started playing the mandolin when he was eight years old. He studied guitar with Pieter van der Staak and lute with Gusta Goldschmidt. From 1974 through 1979 he was lutist of Studio Laren, an ensemble specializing in medieval and renaissance music. Hans Wesseling has been the mandolin player of the Nieuw Ensemble since its foundation in 1980. Together with Hans van Gelderen he is part of the duo Troubadeux. With Gruppo Tarantella he performs Sicilian folk and Italian pop music.


Helenus de Rijke (guitar, The Netherlands) started playing the guitar when he was eight years old. His first teacher was the renowned Dutch guitar pedagogue Gerard Gest. At the age of eighteen, de Rijke studied Latin and Greek at the University of Amsterdam. He soon decided however to devote his life to musis. He took up the guitar again, this time as a student at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. After his graduation in 1978, he and two fellow students formed the Amsterdam Guitar Trio, with which he has performed all over the world. For this trio he has made a large number of succesful transcriptions. Helenus de Rijke joined the Nieuw Ensemble in 1981.


Bassem Alkhouri (qanun, Syrië) werd in 1976 geboren in Damascus. In 2000 studeerde hij af aan het conservatorium van Damascus (qanun en zang), waarna hij in Armenië zijn qanunstudie voortzette. Sinds 2002 studeert hij zang aan het Koninklijk Conservatorium in Den Haag. Bassem Alkhouri trad als qanunspeler op in Frankrijk, Libanon en Egypte en won op de International Music Competition in Algerije in 2001 de tweede prijs voor zijn qanunspel. Als zangsolist trad hij op met het Nationale Orkest van Syrië. Bassem Alkhouri maakt deel uit van het Atlas Ensemble en ensemble Ziggurat.




Yuan Sha (zheng, China) was born in 1976. She took her Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Music at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing where she is presently a post graduate student. Yuan Sha was awarded various scholarships and won the Grand Prize at the Longying National Zheng Competition in November 2001. In August 2002 she was
first prize winner at the National Tradition Chinese Musical Instrument Competition hosted by Ministy of Culture. Ms Yuan Sha has been invited to participate in performances in more than 20 countries and regions throughout the world. She publshed four teaching videos and performance collections.




Siamak Aghaei (santur, Iran) ranks among the very best Iranian classical musicians of his generation. He began studying the santur at the age of eight with the renowned master Parvis Meshkatian and the radif (Persian classical repertoire) with Majid Kiani, a well-known interpreter of the radif. He received his degree in music from Tehran University of the Arts and resides in Tehran, where he is active as a teacher of the santur. Siamak Aghaei works often closely together with the famous kamancha player Kahan Kalhor and has played with the Silk Road Ensemble since 2000.


Makiko Goto (koto, Japan) was born in Tokyo in 1963 and studied under Kazue Sawai and Tadao Sawai at the Sawai Koto School where she received the master degree “Shihan”. In 1986, she moved to Hawaii (USA), where she was an instructor at the Ethnic Music Department of the University of Hawaii and established a branch of the Sawai Koto School. Since 1992, she is living in the Netherlands. Makiko Goto performs both traditional and contemporary music on the traditional koto (with 13-strings) and modern koto instruments (17-string bass koto and 21-string koto). She is frequently invited to join in various ensembles and groups world-wide.

 

Ernestine Stoop (harp, The Netherlands) studied at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. She continued her studies with harpist Pierre Jamet and violinist Sandor Végh. After playing for 11 years with the Radio Filharmonic Orchestra, she is now dedicating herself fully to playing as a solist, chamber music and teaching. Stoop is a member of the Nieuw Ensemble and Asko Ensemble and teaches at the Royal College of Music in the Hague and the High School of Music in Tilburg. As a soloist she  performed with conductors such as Hans Vonk, Ernest Bour, Jean-Jacques Kantorow, David Porcelijn and Ed Spanjaard. She has enjoyed numerous and productive sessions with composers such as Mauricio Kagel, Isang Yun, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Elliott Carter, Louis Andriessen, Franco Donatoni, Theo Loevendie, Guo Wenjing and Guus Janssen preparing their compositions for first performances.




Yan Jiemin (erhu, China) graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1991. She is the first Chinese who earned bachelors’ degrees both in Chinese Instrumental Music and composition, and is now a prominent erhu virtuoso and remarkable composer. Her demonstration of unparalleled music talent dates back to 1982, when she earned her first championship in the Nationwide Teenagers’ Traditional Musical Instrument Solo Competition. On the composition front, Ms. Yan successfully held a concert in the Beijing Concert Hall featuring her own symphonic works in 1991. During her undergraduate study in 1990, she received an art-song composition award. Ms. Yan is an authentic musician, seamlessly combining the skills of an artisan with the profundity of an artist. Pure and beautiful timbre, rigorous yet harmonious phrasing, and in-depth grasp of music comprehension makes her an emblematic erhu player of the new generation. She gave recitals in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hungary and Yugoslavia, where her consummate performance was welcomed with gusto. Yan Jiemin is an Associate Professor at the Central Conservatory in Beijing




Xing Lu (erhu, China) attended high school at the China Conservatory of Music before continuing her study in the Folk Music Department at the Central Conservatory of Music under the guidance of famous musicians and performers Prof. Tian Zaili and Prof. Yan Jiemin. During this time, Ms. Xing learned the Banhu from Prof. Li Heng and the Guqin from Prof. Zhao Jiazhen. She is a member of the Erhu Professional Committee of Chinese Folk Orchestra as well as the Chinese Erhu Musicians Association. Xing has served as the principal player in the “Music China Youth Chinese Orchestra of the Central Conservatory” and has been honored by the CCTV music channel “Fenghua Chinese Music” and the opera channel “Guo Bayin” for her solo shows. She has performed solo for the Xuzhou government of Jiangsu Province and has held solo concerts in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, and at the Central Conservatory of Music Concert Hall. Her concerts have been widely recorded and published on DVD. In April 2009, she held her third solo recital at the Nanjing Arts Institute Concert Hall. In recent years as a soloist, she has visited many countries and regions to participate in international music festivals.

 

Elshan Mansurov (kamancha, Azerbaidjan) was born in 1962 in the Gazah district of Azerbaijan. After completing his studies at the College for Professional Music in Azerbaijan in 1981, he continued his musical training at the Baku Music Academy from 1985 until 1990. From 1986 he has worked for many years with the Mugam Trio of the world famous singer Alim Qasimov. One of Mansurov’s major achievements as a professional kamancha player has been winning the first prize at the Folk Musical Instruments Competition. Since 1990 he is professor at the Baku Music Academy.




Marin Mars (violin, The Netherlands) studied violin at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam with Jan Henrichs and Mark Lubotsky, and concluded her studies with the highest distinction. In 1985 she won the Elisabeth Back Award at the Oskar Back Competition, as well as the BUMA-Foundation Award for the best performance of contemporary music. In the same year she was widely praised for her debut in the Concertgebouw, playing Beethoven's violin concerto with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1988 she received a Masefield grant after a recital in the Hamburg Musikhalle. She performed as a soloist in the Netherlands and abroad, a.o. with the Hamburger Symphoniker and the Netherlands Ballet Orchestra. Marin Mars is well known as a chamber music player: she is member of the Leonardo Piano Trio, the Giotto Ensemble, and forms a duo with pianist Bernd Brackman.


Neva Özgen (kemençe, Turkey) grew up in Istanbul surrounded by Turkish classical music and jazz. She learned to play the flute but after entering the Istanbul Technical University Conservatory she switched to clarinet. It wasn't long before her interest in Turkish Classical music overtook her interest in Western classical traditions and she decided to study the kemençe, an instrument integral to Turkish classical music. She studied with Alaeddin Yavasca. Neva has deeply immersed herself in the works and taksims of Tanburi Cemil Bey. Like many kemençe players in Turkey today, she aims to continue the tradition established by Tanburi Cemil Bey which was passed on to her father. Ihsan Özgen's influence on his daughter cannot be underestimated and Neva Özgen can be considered a student of what is recognized as the ‘Ihsan Özgen school’ of Turkish classical music. She has accompanied him in performances of Turkish classical music in Europe, the United States and Turkey and is preparing to take over the Anatolia Ensemble.




Vincent Peters (viola, The Netherlands) is an experienced soloist and has performed some of the major 20th Century works for Viola and Orchestra. Extremely active in the contemporary ensemble music world, Vincent Peters has collaborated with the Nieuw Ensemble and Asko Ensemble in Amsterdam and the Tactus Ensemble in New York City. Vincent Peters was a student with Vladimir Mendelssohn and Ron Ephrat at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, where he graduated cum laude. He was the winner of the Dutch Peter van Anrooy prize. A Fulbright Scholar, Vincent Peters furthered his studies with Michael Tree in New York City.


Robert Putowski (cello, Poland) was born and educated in Warsaw before moving to the Netherlands in 1997, where he studied at the Conservatory of Utrecht. Shortly after his graduation he won the Postbank Sweelinck Competition and the Richard Hol Award. He took masterclasses with Janos Starker, Frans Helmerson, Ralf Kirschbaum and Heinrich Schiff. As first cellist of the famous Cello Octet Conjunto Iberico, Robert Putowski worked with composers such as Philip Glass, Cristobal Halffter, Terry Riley and Theo Loevendie. He regularly plays with the Nieuw Ensemble.


Rob Dirksen (double bass, The Netherlands) studied at the Conservatory of Utrecht and the Rotterdam Conservatory. Still a student, he was appointed first double bass player of the Gelders Orkest, a position he would hold for ten years. In 2001 he joined the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. As a chamber music player he performs regularly with ensembles such as the Nieuw Ensemble, Schönberg Ensemble, Asko Ensemble and Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam.


Wang Yidong (percussion, China) graduated at the Beijing Conservatory, where he was consequently appointed teacher. He plays in the Chinese Symphony Orchestra and is considered to be one of China’s foremost percussionists, versatile, technically very gifted and a passionate performer. A member of the China Musicians Performing Group, the Huaxia Chamber Music Ensemble, and the Chinese Symphony Orchestra, he performed in China and abroad. Wang Yidong is also a composer, arranger and video artist.




Diego Espinosa (mixed percussion and tabla, Mexico)
He is a member of the Amsterdam Percussion Group and Anomaduchi since
2002, he founded XOC Ensemble and plays for Ensemble Royal, Soil Ensamble, Alicia Sanchez Dance Company (percussionist, dancer and actor).Since 2001 he is a second phase percussion student at The Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague, The Netherlands. His teachers are: Wim Vos, Luuk Nagtegaal, Aly N'Dyae Rose, Hans Zonderop and Rob Verhagen. He studied composition in Mexico at the CIEM and percussion with Tambuco. He licentiated as a percussionist from The Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music. He has perfomed in Mexico, New York, Bolivia, Taiwan, Poland, Holland, Belgium and Cuba, Czec Republic, etc. His recent recordings are: A Cage of Mad Mariachis (commisioned by the german goverment to Rilo Chmirloz), in the WDR Studio Akustische Kunst with Rilo Chirloz. Michiel Borslap and The Amsterdam Percussion Group. Experimental music with Cesar Villavicencio and Hillary Jeffey. He is preparing a cd of new pieces for electroacoustics and solo percussion to be recorded next summer.
He is specialised in hand drumming from Cuba, Senegal and India as well as improvisation music. Some of his activities of this year include: w premiere of Sebastian Herrera's SOLTURA for solo percussion, 3 wp with ensemble royal, opening concert Boulez-Cage (Schöemberg-Asko) in the Concertgebouw, Multimedia concerts in Poland with the Versus improvisation proyect. Next year: wp in México of Alejandra Hernández's trilogy "Pies, para qué los quiero" in the international festival of Music and Scene, tour in Holland of trombone proyect with Slagwerkgroep Amsterdam, Eye in All (Leine and Roebana-DanceWorks Rotterdam-SWAmsterdam), tour in México with Anomaduchi, percussive voices project and Spain tour Persephassa (Xenakis) with SWA, solo concerts for percussion including the percussion festival of Den Haag and a solo recording in summer.


Herman Halewijn (slagwerk) studeerde aan het Koninklijk Conservatorium in Den Haag bij Frans van der Kraan en Wim Vos. Daarnaast volgde hij masterclasses 'niet-westerse ritmiek' bij Bob Becker. Sinds 1983 behoort hij tot de vaste kern van het Nieuw Ensemble. Halewijn is veelvuldig te gast bij vooraanstaande ensembles voor hedendaagse muziek in binnen- en buitenland zoals het Asko/Schönberg Ensemble, de Slagwerkgroep Den Haag, de Ebony Band en Das Neue Ensemble in Hannover. Als paukenist is hij bovendien regelmatig te vinden in verschillende barokorkesten zoals Concerto d'Amsterdam en de Utrechtse Domcantorij.