|
The Dutch conductor, clarinetist and concert organizer, Jooste Hekel, studied musicology in Amsetrdam, clarinet with Ru Otto and Walter Boeykens and historical clarinet with Eric Hoeprich and choral conducting with Koen Vermey, Marc Versteeg, Jos van der Sijde and Joop Schets. Although very experienced with all possible chorus combinations, he is currently still working in the orchestral department of Alex Schillings, especially because the orchestral ability is decreasing in some choral conductors. One likes to see it as 'permanent' education.
Jooste Hekel currently stands as principal conductor of Kamerkoor Garden Rumours in Ulft, Kamerkoor Dékoor in Deventer, Het Koninklijk Winterswijks Mannenkoor and Vrouwenkoor Phoenix in Brummen. He is also founder and conductor of the Hanze Projectkoor, an ambitious project choir with singers from all over eastern Netherlands. He has also conducted several oratorio associations, such as Chr. Oratoriumvereniging Zelhem, Zelhems Oratorium Koor, Cantatekoor Wageningen, Ulfts Mannenkoor, Gem. Koor Vocaal Almen, and Toonkunstkoren van Zutphen, Hoogeveen en Aalsmeer in the well-known choral and orchestral works. He recently directed a production of the ArtEz Conservatory with Purcell's Dido and Aeneas together with Klaas Stok. He has conducted several orchestras and instrumental groups: Orkest Prinses Irene Huizen, Ulft Orkest Vereniging, Symfonisch Blaasorkest Gaanderen, Florilegium Musicum, Graafschap Consort, Nederlands Begeleidingsorkest.
Joost Hekel is a freelance performer with a modern and historical clarinet throughout Europe with ensembles, such as: Het Gelders Orkest, Il Fondamento (Director: Paul Dombrecht), La Stagione Frankfurt, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Director: Ton Koopman), Freiburger Barockorchester, Concerto Köln, Ricercar Consort (Director: Philippe Pierlot), Wiener Akademie, Norsk Barokorkester, Ottetto Amsterdam, Concerto Brandenburg, etc.
Jooste Hekel has the Artistic Director of the historical wind octet Ottetto Amsterdam, with concerts all over Europe and several CD recordings: among others the Gran Partita of W.A. Mozart (released in April 2000). Since 2000, he has been the Artistic Director and Managing Director of Kasteelconcerten Nederland (a series of castle concerts in the eastern Netherlands), responsible for a successful concert at historic sites in Gelderland and Overijssel. |
