Born: Holland

The Dutch organist and pianist (and music director), Leo van Doeselaar, began his organ and piano studies with Gerard Akkerhuis in The Hague and then went on to study organ at the Amsterdam Sweelinck Conservatory with Albert de Klerk and piano with Jan Wijn. As well as both soloist diplomas, he also received the Prix d’Excellance for Organ in 1979. After his study he went on to study ‘historical’ organ playing by means of a few courses, French organ repertoire with André Isoir and followed forte-piano lessons with Malcolm Bilson and Jos van Immerseel.

Leo van Doeselaar is a versatile musician who commands a repertoire of a few centuries as organist, pianist and forte-pianist. In addition to his professorship at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin, he has built up a large concert practice as organist at home and abroad. He is also a much demanded pianist. For more than 20 years he has formed a piano duo with Wyneke Jordans, plays a lot of chamber music and performs as a hymn accompanist. As organist for the Baroque Orchestra of the Nederlandse Bachvereniging, he has worked together with many leading classical music specialists. He rendered his assistance to a large amount of Classical Music Festivals in Europe and the USA.

Leo van Doeselaar has made recordings for many recording companies. In addition to numerous organ recordings his discography comprises of 8 CD’s together with Wyneke Jordans with repertoire for piano á quattre mains. The recordings of Chamber Music no. 7 for organ and orchestra by Paul Hindermith with the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest (Royal Concert Hall Orchestra) under the direction of Ricardo Chailly together with the other six Chamber Music received a Grammy award. As “resident organist” of the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam he appears frequently with renowned orchestras, ensembles and soloists. Besides all of this, Leo van Doeselaar is the organist to the Van Hagerbeer-organ (1643) in the Pieterskerk in Leiden.

Source: Schnither Organ Festival Holland Website; Channel Classics Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2001)

Leo van Doeselaar: Short Biography | Amsterdam Bach Soloists | Recordings of Vocal Works | Recordings of Non-Vocal Works
Reviews of Non-Vocal Recordings: Bach Great Organ Mass by Leo van Doeselaar

Links to other Sites

Leo van Doesellar (Schnither Organ Festival Holland)

Netherlands Bach Society (Channel Classics)

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