Biography
My artistic career started as a soap bubble, at the age of four, in the local ballet gala in Nijmegen (Holland). Shortly after I started playing the violin and a couple years later I learned playing the piano as well.
At the moment I live in Switzerland, where I play concerts as a freelance musician (mostly baroque violin and viola), teach and organise projects.
Between that soap bubble and now I studied dance and music, I played in ensembles and orchestras and I performed in several music theatre productions.
2001-2011 I co-organised Barokensemble De Swaen and its monthly, free entrance, concert series in Amsterdam.
De Swaen developed into a meeting place for musicians that shared a love for non-compromised Historical Performance Practice and it inspired new initiatives to happen.
The instruments I play are all made by Matthieu Besseling in Amsterdam.
My baroque bows are made by Hans Reiners (Berlin).
I only play on all unwound gut strings in equal tension (apart from the modern viola on which I use silver wound gut strings for C and G).
The thick gut strings I use are made by George Stoppani and Oliver Webber.
The thinner gut strings I order by Gesina Liedmeier.
Apart from music, I like making all sort of other things
Ensembles and Orchestras in which I play, or in which I enjoyed playing
Ensemble Braccio (Violin Band)
The Beau Hunks Orchestra (Recording of music by Ferdé Grofe)
Brabants Muzyk College / Collegium Instrumentale Eindhoven
Capella Paterniacensis, PayernePayerne
Barockensemble conSequenza in Vorarlberg
Les Repasseuses (My First String Quartett)
Projekt Orkest 20e eeuw
Symphony orchestras (Ballet Orkest, Gelders Orkest, Noord-Hollands Philharmonisch Orkest)
Music Theatre Productions
1991/1992, 1992/1993
“Tango van 't Noorden”, Theater te Water
I played: Violin, Viola, Piano, Bandoneon
Director: Just Vink
Music and Musicians: Rob Elzenga, Arno van der Heyden, Margreet van der Heyden, Alina Kiers
1993/1994
"Dagelet Céline deel 1 Reis naar het einde van de nacht (werktitel)”, Hummelinck Stuurman Theaterbureau
I played: Viola
Director: Johan Doesburg
Music: Maurice Horsthuis
Musicians: Margreet van der Heyden, Gregor Overtoom, Lidy Sacks-Groenewegen, Jan Stolk, Boris Visser
1994/1995
“Het duet”, Arno van der Heyden
I played: Violin, Viola, Piano, Singing Saw, Accordion
Director: Rolina von Hebel, Jos Thie
Musicians: Arno van der Heyden, Margreet van der Heyden
1995/1996
“Medea”, Noord Nederlands Toneel
I played: Viola
Director: Agaath Witteman
Composer: Calliope Tsoupaki
Musicians: Margreet van der Heyden (Gijs Kramers, Annemieke van Walsem)
1996/1997
“Barok”, Introdans
I played: Viola
Choreography: Ton Wiggers, Kirsten Debrock
Musicians: Heleen Delis, Pablo Escande, Margreet van der Heyden, Michiel van Niessen, David van Ooyen, Naomi Rubinstein, Jan Stolk
1996/1997
“Céline”, Het Nationale Toneel
I played: Viola
Director: Johan Doesburg
Composer: Maurice Horsthuis
Musicians: Katja Giesberger, Ilona de Groot, Justa de Jong, Margreet van der Heyden, Finn Möricke, Michiel Weidner
1998/1999
“Funhouse Classics”, Funhouse
I played: Violin, Viola, Singing Saw
Director: Rob van Houten
Musicians: Bert Beenen, Margreet van der Heyden
1999/2000
“Medea”, De Schiettent
I played: Viola and Singing Saw
Director: Maaike van Langen
Composer: Peter van de Witte
Musicians: Laura Fuchs, Margreet van der Heyden, Martijn Smits
1999/2000
"Orfeo", Frysk Festival 2000 en Tryater.
I played: Viola
Director: Jos Thie
Musical Director: Hoite Pruiksma
2006/2007, 2007/2008
“Zinkt (geen zeemansliedjes)”, Arno van der Heyden
I played: Violin, Viola, Singing Saw, Mandoline, Accordion
Musicians: Lucas van Helsdingen, Arno van der Heyden, Margreet van der Heyden, Bas Mulder, Hendrik Jan Vermeulen