Biography
Concert Organist
Matthias Havinga is employed as organist of the Round Lutheran Church in Amsterdam, organizing concerts and tending to the historic Bätz-organ (1830). He performs many solo concerts in the Netherlands and abroad.
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Matthias was contracted by the international label Brilliant Classics to record two CD's. His first CD, 'J.S.Bach - Italian Concertos', features Bach's organ transcriptions of Italian Concertos by Vivaldi, Marcello and Von Sachsen-Weimar, whereas his second CD, 'Passacaglia', contains eight Passacaglia's of different stylistic and geographic origin. Find more info and order CD's here.
With recorder player Hester Groenleer Matthias founded Duo Havinga-Groenleer. They ambition innovative and striking concepts performing unusual repertoire for both instruments.
Pianist
Matthias is active as solo pianist on many occasions, and also especially enjoys working with vocal soloists and choirs. He frequently accompanies the Netherlands Radio Choir and many major oratorio choirs.
Church Musician
In his occupation as cantor and organist of the Augustanakerk Amsterdam, Matthias organizes 'Bach in Bos & Lommer', performing Bach's famous cantatas within the service, and the concert series Klassiek in West, consisting of four chamber music concerts a year. The concert programmes of Klassiek in West are frequently linked in some way to the great musical tradition of the Christian church.
Matthias also regularly performs for religious radio broadcasts by IKON and NCRV, and takes part in the process of composing a new Dutch hymnbook, to be used by most of the major protestant churches in the Netherlands.
Teacher
Matthias is active as a private piano and organ teacher.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.