About Holland Baroque

Holland Baroque enriches the musical canon with inexhaustible curiosity by approaching the score as an unfinished work of art. Knowledge, skill, imagination, and playfulness unite as the baroque becomes a new experience. From this outlook, Holland Baroque has found its own distinctive sound.

Judith and Tineke Steenbrink, artistic directors and the beating heart of the ensemble, write and arrange for the orchestra and their musical guests. This has led to innovative projects such as Gospel Baroque with the London Community Gospel Choir, Love is Crazy with punk diva Sven Ratzke, and Silk Baroque with sheng player Wu Wei. Through their extensive research, they have discovered of a treasure trove of repertoire and brought forth appreciation of forgotten 17th-century composers like Benedictus a Sancto Josepho. The orchestra has received widespread recognition with projects featuring trumpeter Eric Vloeimans and singer-songwriter Daniël Lohues as well as through their collaboration with Reinbert de Leeuw, which left a deep and lasting impression.

The orchestra also supports young talent and the future of music by fostering creativity in children through school concerts. In the Samama Fellowship, young professionals gain experience by playing with the orchestra throughout a full season.

Awards such as the Edison, the VSCD, and the REMA Education award, serve as recognition for Holland Baroque’s artistic quality, dedication, and approach to music-making. Holland Baroque’s prizes and nominations include:

• The VSCD Classical Music Prize 2007-2008
• The Edison Classical Award 2017 for the album Carroussel with Eric Vloeimans
• The REMA award ‘Education Project of the Year’ 2022
• The REMA award ‘Best Support Programme for Young Artists’ 2024
• The Edison Classical Audience Award 2024 for the album Missa Sancti Georgii with Cappella Amsterdam and Wishful Singing
• Nomination for ‘de Ovatie’, the VSCD Classical Music Prize 2024, for the project Carnival Baroque with soprano Jeanine De Bique

Holland Baroque has recorded eighteen CDs with the labels Channel Classics and Pentatone.

During the recent State Visit to Bratislava, King Willem-Alexander expressed his appreciation to the musicians of Holland Baroque saying, “Who could have imagined fifteen years ago that baroque music would open itself up to the world this way?”

Baroque is now.

Mission and Vision

Mission

Holland Baroque gives a future to ancient music. From the baroque sound world, we create new programs that broaden the listener’s horizon and promote intercultural dialogue. Encounters and fusions between ancient music and other styles arise from fascination and creativity. Holland Baroque takes the lead in the development of cross-genre programming with historical instruments and collaborates with international soloists and ensembles. Through this, we connect audiences and groups of people in the Netherlands and beyond, both through live concerts and through albums, radio, television, and online content. Our efforts in talent development and education also stem from this mission. Through our Samama Fellowship, we inspire the newest generation of baroque musicians, and they inspire us, collectively fueling the innovation of ancient music.

Vision

When you approach baroque music with love, knowledge, skill, and creativity, you can open the scores with confidence. Thus, baroque becomes the starting point for something new. The spirit of the baroque also resonates with other times and styles. Holland Baroque tailors each program to the intersection of theme, ensemble, and soloist, creating unique programs where each musician takes responsibility for the result. As a self-directed soloist ensemble, we bring the splendor and refinement, the grandeur and grace of the baroque into the 21st century.

Holland Baroque is affiliated with the CAO Music Ensembles.

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