Biography:

Jan Welmers ( Zuidlaren , July 6 , 1937 – Bunnik , March 7 , 2022 ) was a Dutch composer and organist . ^[1] [2]

Musical training

Welmers received his first musical instruction from his father Sijbe Welmers (1901-1958), who worked as an organist, pianist , violinist , choir conductor and music teacher , and was very interested in new music of his time. He was further introduced to new music by Johan van der Meer and Charles de Wolff , two musical pioneers in the city of Groningen . He became known as a composer for his works in the style of minimal music .

After taking organ lessons with Evert Westra, Welmers studied organ with Wim van Beek and piano with Anton Tump at the Prince Claus Conservatory in Groningen from 1958 . He obtained the certificates Organ A and B. He passed the C exam in 1967 in Utrecht where he studied organ and improvisation at the Utrecht Conservatory with Cor Kee . He then took composition lessons with Kees van Baaren until his death in 1970 , and new music lessons with Ton de Leeuw .

Musical career

Inspired by Wybren Veeman , an inventive musician who invented, among other things, a movable studio, and the pianist Chaia Gerstein , he formed a trio that gave concerts in which improvising on various instruments (including electronic ones) was central.

In 1966 Welmers won the National Organ Improvisation Competition in Bolsward and in 1968 he took part in the International Improvisation Competition for Organists in Haarlem . In 1964 he became organist of the Triumfator Church in Katwijk aan Zee , a position he would hold until 1974 .

After teaching theory at the Utrecht Conservatory for some time, he was appointed principal subject teacher of Organ there in 1974 . In 1998 he retired from the conservatory and devoted himself to composing.

As an improvisation teacher, Welmers trained a number of leading organists, such as Henco de Berg and Jan Hage .

Jan Welmers was the permanent player of the König organ ( 1776 ) in the Grote or Sint-Stevenskerk in Nijmegen from 1974 to 2002 .

On October 22, 2005, Welmers received the Sweelinck Prize for his entire oeuvre during the opening concert of the Sweelinck Festival & Competition in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam .

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