Barend Schipper, composer, pianist, vocalist

A voyage towards a more physical approach to compose and perform 

Barend composed the Suite Polynésienne for enlarged symphony orchestra, mixed choir and soprano. His music flows from his enthusiasm about the rising forms of international classical music. The richness in feeling of the many traditions from Europe, the Americas, of Africa, Asia and Oceania is a source of inspiration to him.  Nature's sounds and movements, song, dance and theatre, and the world of our inner nature, dreams form together his source of inspiration for creating and performing new music.

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Barend enjoys his collaborations with other musicians, with poets, choreographers, visual artists and pioneering scientists. Barend has given concerts of his music in the EU as a pianist and a vocalist-pianist. 

Barend has taught composition at the conservatory of Turku, Finland and gave lectures on ‘a rebirth of classical music in our intercultural time’ at universities, academies and concert halls in the EU and on classical music in general. 

He cooperated with neuro biologist dr. Han Wassenaar, sharing their enthusiasm about music creation and consciousness. This resulted in Studium Generale performances and masterclasses and the development of an article ‘a rebirth of classical music in our intercultural time’.  

In this process Barend has also come to enjoy coaching people in the field of personal development, emotion coaching, creativity, innovation and natural leadership. He worked for and with different coaching teams and individuals: private and in organisations. 

Since his early study years Barend has enjoyed teaching composing, piano and singing, improvising and music theory often in the context of the culture and history of music. His approach is person directed, be it amateur or professional. The lessons are tailor made for the student's choice for development of musical and personal creativity. 

He enjoys cooperating in and leading of ensembles, conducting choirs, sometimes while accompanying from the piano: in classical, world music, early music and other styles. 

At present Barend Schipper's creative output concentrates on composing and recording his music ranging from  string quartet, piano and wind instruments piano solo music to orchestra music. 

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Barend was accepted as a student by composer Einojuhani Rautavaara at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. Dr. Rautavaara -2nd piano concert was ordered by Vladimir Ashkenazy- invited Barend to open the series of international public lectures of the Sibelius Academy with a lecture on his ideas about a rebirth of classical music in our globally connected world. 

Composer Jacqueline Fontyn received Barend as a student of composition at her home near Brussels, Belgium. Jaccqueline Fontyn who was the main professor of composition at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, composed a violin concert for the Queen Elisabeth Concours. 

Both composers were leading European composers at the time and currently their music is internationally held in high regard.                                       

Barend started his main studies of composition and orchestra conducting with composer conductor Willem Frederik Bon, studied piano privately with Maria Stroo and singing originally as his 2nd main instrument in the context of music teacher, with soprano Heleen Verkley. All three performed regularly with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam. Bon as an assistant conductor, Verkley as a regular soloist, Stroo also appeared as a regular soloist with Concertgebouw Orchestra and formed a duo with two concert masters of the orchestra, Theo Olof and Viktor Liberman.  Barend cherishes the memory of enthusiasm, inspiration and vision he received from and also exchanged with all five maestri. 

Barend started his music education in the hometown of his youth, Groningen. He remembers with thankfulness the many possibilities offered by the teachers of this conservatory.  

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 Quotes: 

 "I had the pleasure to meet Barend Schipper. He appeared to me as a very talented composer. His feeling for colour in harmony and instrumentation and his research for a personal musical language are quite remarkable." 

Jacqueline Fontyn, Brussels, composer was the main professor of composition at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and composed  a Violin Concerto, for the finals of the Queen Elisabeth Competition 

 "Barend Schipper's music manifests a world of refined balance, energy and organically coherence. Its vigorous lyricism's both assertive and poignant, and always compelling.This refreshing music echoes the past and mirrors the future.” 

James Strecker, Hamilton, Canada, poet, author, recipient of the Hamilton Arts Award.