About what I do and did as a musician. And more.
During and after my music studies, I performed in music theatre productions and played in ensembles and orchestras.
Some years later, I swapped that life for one dedicated to performing 18th century music on period instruments.
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.
After 10 years De Swaen, it was time time for changes.
At the moment I live in Switzerland, where I play concerts as a freelance musician, teach and organise projects.
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 C and G string).
The thick gut strings I use are made by George Stoppani and Oliver Webber.
The thinner gut strings I order by Gesina Liedmeier.
I studied with:
Joan Berkhemer (chamber music)
Alda Stuurop (period instruments)
Oliver Webber (violin)
Gerrit Oldeman (viola)
Esther Apituley (viola)
Christopher Czaja Sager (piano)
Dorothee Mariani, Daniel Künzler, Heike Trimpert, Birgit & Peter Boch (string group teaching)
Jennifer Cohen Harper (teaching yoga and mindfulness to children)
Apart from music, I like making all sort of other things:
Ensembles and Orchestras in which I play, or in which I have enjoyed playing in the past:
Collegium Instrumentale Eindhoven
La Sagrada Familia
Ensemble Combassal
Capella Paterniacensis (Payerne)
Barockensemble conSequenza (Vorarlberg)
Projekt Orkest 20e eeuw
Music Theatre Productions:
2006/2007, 2007/2008
“Zinkt (geen zeemansliedjes)”, Arno van der Heyden
Violin, Viola, Singing Saw, Mandoline, Accordion
Music and Musicians: Lucas van Helsdingen, Arno van der Heyden, Margreet van der Heyden, Bas Mulder, Hendrik Jan Vermeulen
1999/2000
"Orfeo", Frysk Festival 2000 en Tryater.
Viola
Director: Jos Thie
Composer: Christop Wilibald Gluck
Musical Director: Hoite Pruiksma
1999/2000
“Medea”, De Schiettent
Viola and Singing Saw
Director: Maaike van Langen
Composer: Peter van de Witte
Musicians: Laura Fuchs, Margreet van der Heyden, Martijn Smits
1998/1999
“Funhouse Classics”, Funhouse
Violin, Viola, Singing Saw
Director: Rob van Houten
Music and Musicians: Bert Beenen, Margreet van der Heyden
1997/1998
“März”, (Leben des schizophrenen Dichters Alexander M., Heinar Kipphardt), Theaterwerkplaats Neerpelt
Viola, Singing Saw
Director: Mark Timmer
Music and Musician: Margreet van der Heyden
1996/1997
“Céline”, Het Nationale Toneel
Viola
Director: Johan Doesburg
Composer: Maurice Horsthuis
Musicians: Katja Giesberger, Ilona de Groot, Justa de Jong, Margreet van der Heyden, Finn Möricke, Michiel Weidner
1996/1997
“Barok”, Introdans
Viola
Choreography: Ton Wiggers, Kirsten Debrock
Composers: Vivaldi, Bach, Widor, Pärt and others
Musicians: Heleen Delis, Pablo Escande, Margreet van der Heyden, Michiel van Niessen, David van Ooyen, Naomi Rubinstein, Jan Stolk
1995/1996
“Medea”, Noord Nederlands Toneel
Viola
Director: Agaath Witteman
Composer: Calliope Tsoupaki
Musicians: Margreet van der Heyden (Gijs Kramers, Annemieke van Walsem)
1994/1995
“Het duet”, Arno van der Heyden
Violin, Viola, Piano, Singing Saw, Accordeon
Director: Rolina von Hebel, Jos Thie
Music and Musicians: Arno van der Heyden, Margreet van der Heyden
1993/1994
"Dagelet Céline deel 1 Reis naar het einde van de nacht (werktitel)”, Hummelinck Stuurman Theaterbureau
Viola
Director: Johan Doesburg
Composer: Maurice Horsthuis
Musicians: Margreet van der Heyden, Gregor Overtoom, Lidy Sacks-Groenewegen, Jan Stolk, Boris Visser

“Tango van 't Noorden”, Theater te Water
Violin, Viola, Piano, Bandoneon
Director: Just Vink
Music and Musicians: Rob Elzenga, Arno van der Heyden, Margreet van der Heyden, Alina Kiers