Alexander de Blaeij

Conductor / Leader

Conductor Alexander de Blaeij studied the violin at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam, where his teacher was Else Krieg. He continued his education at the University of Mainz, studying with Denis Zsigmondy. He was appointed first violinist at the Arnhem Philharmonic (APO) in 2001 and held that position ever since. he showed considerable aptitude in conducting an orchestra, honorary guest conductor Martin Sieghart invited De Blaeij to Graz in 2008, in order to further his talent. De Blaeij made his conducting debut in June 2008, leading the Arnhem Philharmonic in an educational project. In November 2010 he fronted the APO and the ‘Toonkunstkoor Arnhem’ by conducting ‘The Scream’, a protest against the then Governmental policies and cutbacks in the Arts at that time. De Blaeij made his debut as an opera conductor 2011 at the Kameroprerahuis in Zwolle. In 2012 De Blaeij continued to demonstrate his versatility by leading the Arnhem Philharmonic in a series of children’s concerts and conducted the orchestra’s annual Valentine’s Concert. Visitors were impressed with his interpretation of the introductory movement of Tristan and Isolde,one of Wagner’s music dramas. De Blaeij also experimented with new music and alternative forms of presentation. With the APO Rebels, he made a number of groundbreaking productions. In 2016 he will lead a project at the Hochschule für Musik, Yheater und Medien in Hannover, Germany. He also impressed the international jury panel in July 2014 at the prestigious Wiener Musik Seminar, where he conducted Bruckner with the Savaria Symphony Orchestra and won second price. De Blaeij made his debut with the Royal Concergebouw Orchestra in Januari 2016 in Amsterdam where he conducted a chamber ensemble in the AAA series of the orchestra. He will also conduct a series ofchildren’s concerts made by Herman van Veen for the Arnhem Philharmonic in May 2016.