Henry Kelder

Henry Kelder (born 1973 in The Netherlands) is active as pianist, composer, conductor, improviser, chamber musician, répétiteur, cultural enterpraineur and professor. He studied piano, chamber music, composition and orchestral conducting. He is internationally recognized for his allround musicianship in artistry and styles.

As composer he wrote chamber music, solo pieces, 3 saxophone concertos, 2 symphonic cantatas, choir works, symphonic works, film music, music theatre and improvisations.

His style is contemporary and neo romantic but always with elements from entertainment music like film, jazz, rock and world music. Commissions for 2022 are a violin sonata, saxophone quartet, string quartet, 2 trios and a quintet.

As pianist he performs around the world in mixed programs in several combinations.

During the Corona lockdowns he played daily in his home studio a piano piece to share on social media, this was an international success. With saxophonist Johan van der Linden he forms Duo Lind′n Kelder. This duo is performing contemporary music with a clear approachability and crossover elements. Many composers wrote for them. In 2021 they released their album ZBOP! He is also pianist in Cinema Paradiso, illusTrio and LUDWIG, where he plays on the Grammy winning album Crazy Girl Crazy with Barbara Hannigan. Furthermore he worked with Steve Reich, Schlomo Mintz, Ryo Noda, Simone Lamsma,

Julia Jones, Pascal Dusapin, Pierre Audi, Jacob TV, Louis Andriessen and many more.

As répétiteur and conductor Henry Kelder prepared many world premieres from contemporary operas. He conducted Dutch Radio Orchestra and Choir and Dutch VocalLab, but as conductor he mainly conducts his own pieces and contemporary compositions with Keuris Ensemble and Ensemble NUtrecht. As répétiteur he worked at Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and with Silbersee, Berlin Vocal Consort, Nederlands Kamerkoor and Dutch National Opera.

Since 2011 he is director of MatchingArts, an innovative company for arts of all kind, organizing festivals, competitions, international exchanges between artists and musicians and publishes sheet music. With MatchingArts Collective he is building an international platform for professional musicians, composers and visual artists. Since 2019 is MatchingArts partner with SkyCulture and Henry Kelder became manager of SkyCulture The Netherlands. This partnership resulted in cultural exchanges between China and Europe and organizing events like 24 Concerts: Music without borders, Dutch Days Guangdong, Foshan Days Holland and Foshan Composers Contest.

He tours yearly in America and China to give concerts and masterclasses. Recently his new double solo piano album Clarity in Depth I&II was released. Henry Kelder is Professor of Piano at HKU Utrecht Conservatory, father of twin boys and lives in Hoogland. For more detailed info see links.