Peter Dijkstra

Peter Dijkstra, born in the Netherlands in 1978, began singing as a boy in the Roden Boys Choir until his voice changed. He was invited for many solo performances, including opera productions like Die Zauberflöte at The Netherlands Opera Foundation in Amsterdam. He studied choral conducting, orchestral conducting and voice at the conservatories of The Hague, Köln and Stockholm, and graduated summa cum laude. Furthermore he followed masterclasses with leading choral conductors like Tonu Kaljuste and Eric Ericsson.

In 2002 he was awarded the Kersjes-van de Groenekamprize for young orchestral conductors and the winning of the first prize at the Eric Ericson Competition 2003 in Stockholm launched his international career. Dijkstra now is regularly invited as guest conductor by the BBC Singers, Collegium Vocale Gent, RIAS Chamber Choir Berlin and the Netherlands Radiochoir. His concert programs display a broad repertoire, from early music to premiers of newly composed works. He also is an appreciated guest with outstanding orchestras like the Symphony-orchestra of the Bavarian Radio, the North Netherlands Philharmonic, DSO Berlin and the Bochum Symphonic Orchestra.

In September 2005 he is appointed artistic director of the Choir of the Bavarian Radio in Munich. Besides the choir’s Subscriptionconcerts and tours he co-operates with conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Riccardo Muti and Claudio Abbado. In 2006 he was appointed first guest conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Choir.

In September 2007 Dijkstra has started as chief conductor of the Swedish Radio Choir, after having been their first guest conductor for 3 years. He will mainly focus on the performance of a cappella-works, and the extension of the repertoire.

In the Netherlands he’s artistic leader of vocal ensemble MUSA, a mixed choir based in Utrecht. He also is regular guest conductor of vocal ensemble The Gents. With this all-male ensemble he won many prizes on international festivals and toured in Japan, Spain, Sweden and Great-Britain. Dijkstra regularly records for the labels Channel Classics and Oehms Classics.