Leo van Doeselaar, organ, piano, fortepiano

Leo van Doeselaar  studied the organ with Albert de Klerk and piano with Jan Wijn at the Amsterdam Sweelinck Conservatory. After obtaining his solo degrees, he was awarded the Prix d'Excellence in organ in 1979. In 1980 he was awarded the Toonkunst-Jubileum Prize, and in 1981 he won the Zilveren Vriendenkrans of the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam. Upon the completion of his conservatory training, he specialized in the organ repertoire of the Baroque, following several international courses; he also studied French organ repertoire in Paris under André Isoir and took fortepiano lessons with Malcolm Bilson and Jos van Immerseel.

Leo van Doeselaar appears frequently in concert throughout Europe and the United States; he has also appeared as a soloist and teacher at numerous important Early Music festivals, including those of Flanders, Utrecht, York, Saintes, Berlin, San Antonio and Moscow. He has performed as a soloist with various orchestras and conductors including Ernest Bour, Riccardo Chailly, Jean Fournet, Ingo Metzmacher, Mariss Jansons, Frans Brüggen and David Zinman.

He has appeared as a continuo player with many baroque ensembles including those led by Philippe Herreweghe, Ton Koopman, Sigiswald Kuyken, Gustav Leonhardt and Andrew Parrott. In addition to these activities, he is a dedicated chamber music performer on both historic and modern pianos.

He also partners Wyneke Jordans in a widely acclaimed duo-piano team, using both historical and modern instruments. The duo frequently appears in concert and has also recorded a dozen CDs for the Etcetera, Challenge Classics and Globe labels.

As an organist, Leo van Doeselaar has also made recordings on CD for various different labels, including the first complete recording of the organ works of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach and Georg Friedrich Händel. His discography further lists organ music on historic organs by Mozart, Krebs,
J.S. Bach, Van Noordt, Jan Pzn. Sweelinck and organ works by Franz Liszt, played on the organ of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.

He was the organ soloist with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Riccardo Chailly, in Paul Hindemith's Kammermusik no. 7, recorded by Decca. This recording received a Grammy Award. In 1993, on the occasion of the dedication of the restored Concertgebouw organ, Leo van Doeselaar was the soloist with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Maestro Chailly. At the Concertgebouw he played the world premieres of Organ Concertos by Sofia Gubaidulina, Franco Donatoni, Tristan Keuris and Wolfgang Rihm.

In 1995 he was appointed professor of organ at the Universität der Künste in Berlin. In addition he is organist of the Van Hagerbeer-organ (1643) of the Leiden Pieterskerk as well as titular organist of the Concertgebouw. In 2007, Leo van Doeselaar received the prestigious  Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck Award for his merits for the organ culture.