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The Dutch choral conductor and baritone singer, Benjamin Bakker, began singing at a young age with the Roder Jongenskoor. He studied choral conducting and solo singing at the Koninklijk Conservatorium van Den Haag (Bachelor of Music degree: 2000-2005). He studied choral conducting with Jos van Veldhoven and Jos Vermunt, and solo singing with Gerda van Zelm, Kees Jan de Koning, and Barbara Pearson. He also participated in master-classes with Tõnu Kaljuste in the Netherlands and Finland (2002), with the Nederlands Kamerkoor and the choir of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. In 2008, he was selected for a master-class with Anders Eby in Sweden, and in 2009 he worked with the Nederlands Kamerkoor and the Netherlands Radio Choir during the Eric Ericson Masterclass in Haarlem. In 2010, he participated in an international master-class in Denmark under the direction of Frieder Bernius. There, he was chosen to work with the Danish National Vocal Ensemble. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Stichting Talent voor Muziek (since January 2008). A foundation that supports the careers of talented young musicians and also inspires younger generations through educational projects.
Benjamin Bakker is currently the conductor of the Kamerkoor Noord (since September 2022), Kamerkoor Amsemble (since January 2014), Rotterdams Barok Ensemble (since January 2007), Zang Edam (since November 2015), ABC Ensemble and Swes Barokorkest, Bavocale Haarlem (since October 2025). He has conducted projects with LUDWIG, Ballet van Leth, NASKA, and Kamerkoor MUSA (since January 2009). With his choir Amsemble, he recorded a CD with works by Daan Manneke in 2018, which was awarded 4 stars by the newspaper Kamerkoor MUSA. In 2019, Amsemble was invited to sing for Daan Manneke at Podium Witteman.
Benjamin Bakker has sung with various professional choirs such as the Nederlandse Bachvereniging (2001-2004; Director: Jos van Veldhoven), Cappella Amsterdam (Director: Daniel Reuss), The Gents (Director: Peter Dijkstra) and the Gewandhaus-Kammerchor in Leipzig (Directors: Herbert Blomstedt, Morten Schuldt-Jensen). He currently lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. |
