‘For me, music is the greatest miracle there is. This power, though invisible, possesses everything that cannot be measured. It makes people happy, teaches them to listen, comforts, relaxes, is exciting, scary, overwhelming, raises questions and teaches interpretation. It is pre-eminently something that connects people, even if only the performer and listener. It gives identity, frames emotions and puts power to any other art form. My goal is to convey the love of music, because I believe everyone can enjoy it as much as I do.’

Rolf Verbeek has been associated with Camerata RCO (members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) as permanent guest conductor and is also artistic director of the Somer Chamber Orchestra. To date, he has released two CDs with Camerata RCO: Anton Bruckner’s 6th symphony in his own arrangement and the CD Sehnsucht with soloist Barbara Hannigan in songs by Alban Berg and Gustav Mahler’s 4th symphony.

For several years, Hannigan fulfilled the role of mentor within the Equilibrium Young Artists program in which Rolf was assistant conductor to many international orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Münchner Philharmoniker and Orchester Philharmonique de Radio France.

In 2022, he was awarded the prestigious Kersjes Prize for his clear and communicative style, which fosters effective and harmonious interaction with orchestra members. Since then he has regularly conducted orchestras such as Filarmonica Banatul Timisoara, Transylvania State Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Phion, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and family concerts with musicians from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.