AMSTERDAM, April 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

On 1 August 2015 Peter Dijkstra will become the new chief conductor of the Nederlands Kamerkoor. He will take over the position from the Estonian conductor Risto Joost, who has worked with the Nederlands Kamerkoor since 2011. 

"I have always felt a close bond with the Nederlands Kamerkoor, and after a decade as principal guest conductor, becoming its chief conductor feels like a totally natural step," says Peter Dijkstra. "I shall do everything I can in this new phase to propel the choir to great heights. My feeling is that with the Nederlands Kamerkoor the sky's the limit!"

"Peter's appointment will be of great value in terms of the development and ambition of the Nederlands Kamerkoor. Furthermore, it will give the rich choral music tradition in the Netherlands a tremendous boost," as the Choir's general manager Tido Visser puts it. "Peter Dijkstra is a conductor with a major international reputation, and ranks among the world's very best. He has a very fresh and surprising perspective on music, and what's more he is a fervent champion of the innumerable amateur choirs in our country. This is also of importance to us, the Nederlands Kamerkoor."

Until 1 August 2015 leadership of the Nederlands Kamerkoor will remain in the safe hands of Risto Joost.  Tido Visser: "Risto has seen to it that the Nederlands Kamerkoor is artistically in perfect health. For that we are particularly grateful to him. We look forward to a splendid season under his leadership."

Peter Dijkstra will sign a contract for 5 years, with an option of a further 2. Alongside his chief conductorship of the Nederlands Kamerkoor, he will also remain associated with the Swedish Radio Choir, where he has been chief conductor since 2007. Until the summer of 2016 Dijkstra will also remain under contract as artistic director of the Bavarian Radio Choir in Munich.

Biography Peter Dijkstra    

Peter Dijkstra (b. Roden, 1978) studied choral and orchestral conducting and solo voice at

the conservatoria of The Hague, Cologne and Stockholm, and for these studies received a first

class degree with distinction. In 2005 Dijkstra was appointed artistic director of the Bavarian

Radio Choir in Munich. Since then the choir has developed hugely and has become a

welcome guest of the finest orchestras in the world. Shortly thereafter, in September 2007,

Dijkstra was appointed chief conductor of the Swedish Radio Choir.

Under his direction both these ensembles have frequently received prizes, such as the Diapason d'Or and Echo-Klassik.

In the Netherlands he is at present principal guest conductor of the Nederlands Kamerkoor,

artistic director of the vocal ensemble MUSA in Utrecht and principal guest conductor of The

Gents vocal ensemble.

In 2014 Peter Dijkstra was awarded the prestigious Eugen Jochem prize and the Gouden

Viooltje, the Northern Netherlands music prize which is presented at least once every three

years to an exceptional musical talent from Groningen, Friesland or Drenthe.

Biography Nederlands Kamerkoor 

The Nederlands Kamerkoor has been a household name for more than 75 years, and has belonged in the upper echelons of the international musical scene for decades now. The Nederlands Kamerkoor is more than the sum of its parts, since it has been praised by critics at home and abroad for its homogeneous sound as well as for the solo qualities of the individual singers. The Nederlands Kamerkoor considers it its task to keep choral music alive and kicking as an art form. By searching for new forms, by commissioning works which explore new frontiers, and by maintaining active contact with its grassroots support. This results in concerts that are not just perceived as beautiful, but also as a real experience. Alongside its own subscription series the Choir collaborates regularly with renowned ensembles such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, ASKO|Schönberg, La Fenice and Le Concert Lorrain. The Choir has released over seventy-five CDs, a number of which have been awarded prizes.

Investment in education and participation forms an inextricable element of the Choir's mission. The Netherlands has thousands of amateur choirs and numerous youth and children's choirs. The Nederlands Kamerkoor provides coaching sessions and workshops, and 'adopts' choirs to perform prior to their own concerts.

Since 2011 the young Estonian conductor Risto Joost has been responsible for the preservation of the NKK's unique sound. The Nederlands Kamerkoor's first chief conductor was its founder Felix de Nobel. He was succeeded by Uwe Gronostay, Tõnu Kaljuste and Stephen Layton respectively. All of them conductors who gave a marvellous new impetus to choral music in general and the Nederlands Kamerkoor in particular.

http://www.nederlandskamerkoor.nl 

Contact details: Tido Visser, +31-622863724, [email protected]

SOURCE Nederlands Kamerkoor