Jaap van Zweden

Jaap van Zweden (pronounced: "YAP van ZVAY-den") (born December 12, 1960 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland) is a Dutch conductor and violinist. His father, a pianist, encouraged him to begin violin studies at age 5. van Zweden studied music in Amsterdam. Later, he won a violin competition at age 15, which allowed him to attend The Juilliard School, where he studied with Dorothy DeLay. [cite news | url=http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_news/story/934254.html | title=Conductor Jaap van Zweden's performance applauded from every corner | publisher="Dallas Star-Telegram" | author=Tim Madigan | date=28 September 2008 | accessdate=2008-09-28] In 1979, he became the concertmaster of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the youngest violinist ever to hold that position. He held this post until 1995.

Van Zweden began to work as a conductor after Leonard Bernstein invited him to lead an orchestra rehearsal in Berlin. He has stated that he learned much about conducting from observing the various conductors who led concerts of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. He conducted smaller ensembles initially, and became a full-time conductor in 1997.cite news | url=http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/columnists/scantrell/stories/DN-dso_0201new.State.Edition1.4b8b1d.html | title=New director for DSO | publisher="Dallas Morning News" | author=Scott Cantrell | date=1 February 2007 | accessdate=2007-08-29]

His first Dutch conducting post was as chief conductor with the Orkest van het Oosten (Orchestra of the East, or the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra) in Enschede, the Netherlands. He served in this post from 1996 through 2000. Van Zweden was chief conductor of the Residentie Orchestra from 2000-2005, with whom he recorded the complete symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven. In 2005, he became chief conductor and artistic leader of the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest (RFO; Netherlands Radio Philharmonic) in Hilversum.

Van Zweden made his US conducting debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1996. His second US guest-conducting appearance was with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in February 2006, a concert that was highly acclaimed. [cite news | url=http://www.guidelive.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/columnists/scantrell/stories/DN-dso_0217gl.ART.State.Edition2.1daadacf.html | title=Guest conductor van Zweden makes quite a showing | publisher="Dallas Morning News" | author=Scott Cantrell | date=17 February 2006 | accessdate=2007-08-29] Based on this engagement, the Dallas Symphony named van Zweden their next Music Director after Andrew Litton, effective with the 2008-2009 season. His initial contract is for four years, where in the first year he is scheduled to conduct 12 weeks of subscription concerts, and for 15 weeks in the subsequent 3 years. For the 2007-2008 season, he held the title of Music Director Designate and conducted 3 subscription concerts.cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/5947.html | title=Dallas Symphony Names Jaap van Zweden Music Director | publisher="Playbill Arts" | author=Vivien Schweitzer | date=1 February 2007 | accessdate=2007-08-29]

In addition to his post with the RFO and his Music Directorship with the Dallas Symphony, van Zweden is scheduled to become chief conductor of the deFilharmonie (Royal Flemish Philharmonic) in Antwerp, for an initial contract of 3 years.

Since 1983, van Zweden is married to the artist Aaltje van Zweden-van Buuren. They have a daughter, Anna-Sophie, and three sons, Daniel, Benjamin and Alexander. The van Zwedens have a particular interest in autism, as their son Benjamin is autistic. They have set up the Papageno Foundation for providing autistic children with music therapy. [cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/6255.html | title=Conduct Energy. Conduct Heat. | publisher="Playbill Arts" | author=Laura Korenman | date=2 April 2007 | accessdate=2007-08-29]

References

External links

* [http://www.stichtingpapageno.nl/index_ex.html Papageno Foundation website (Dutch language)]