I was born on October 14, 2008, in Rotterdam. I’ve been playing the piano since I was three years old. I’ve been playing the bassoon since I was ten. During high school, I took lessons in both instruments at the Codarts Lyceum in Rotterdam with Ellyne Wieringa (piano) and Pieter Nuytten (bassoon). I’m currently studying bassoon at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Bram van Sambeek.
I started playing the bassoon because I really wanted to be in an orchestra, and it’s not that easy to get into an orchestra as a pianist. Another reason is that I wanted to play my grandfather’s part in *Peter and the Wolf*.
I took my first bassoon lessons with Marije Bierling. A year later, Emma (my twin sister) also started playing the bassoon. After that, we took online lessons with Mette Laugs due to the pandemic. During high school (at the Codarts Lyceum), we studied with Pieter Nuytten. I’m currently studying with Bram van Sambeek at the Royal Conservatory. Emma and I have played together in the Rotterdam Youth Symphony Orchestra (RJSO) and the Young Talent Orchestra (YTO). We currently play together in the JON (Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands).
Emma and I regularly give concerts together. For example, we’ve performed in the Classic Express at the Princess Christina Competition, at the Isala Theater, the Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague, and in one of the Talent Break Concerts organized by Codarts in collaboration with De Doelen in Rotterdam. Emma and I form a bassoon duo called “Bassoontwins” or “Fagottweeling,” and we sometimes incorporate the harp and piano into our concerts. See our websites at www.bassoontwins.com and www.instagram.com/bassoontwins.
As a duo, we have also performed as soloists on a few occasions. In December 2022, we performed Vanhal’s Concerto for Two Bassoons together at De Doelen with the YTO. In March 2023, we performed a Vivaldi duo concerto with the Baroque orchestra Ars Musica in Rotterdam, and in April 2024, we performed Stephenson’s Concertino for Two Bassoons and Orchestra with the Artoni Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Ali Groen.
I have also had the opportunity to perform as a soloist with an orchestra on several occasions. For example, with Sinfonia Rotterdam (including during the festival “De Dag van de Romantische Muziek” (now: “Klassiek in het Park”)) and together with the Viotta string orchestra, I performed a Vivaldi concerto.
Profile photo: Maaike Eijkman
