Biography

PETER WESTERBRINK (born in 1957) has been organist of the Arp Schnitger organ in the Der Aa-Kerk in Groningen since 1992. He is also organist of the Arp Schnitger organ (1996) in Noordbroek and of the Hinsz organ (1731) in Zandeweer (province of Groningen), which was reconstructed in 2008.

He studied organ with Mar­greet Prin­sen and Wim van Beek at the Conservatory in Groningen, and also school­ mu­sic and church music.

Peter Westerbrink specialized in old North European organ music and has acquired an international reputation as concert organist, teacher and jury member.  From 1995 to 1997 he taught North German organ music at the Accademia di Musica Italiana per Organo in Pistoia (Tuscany, Italy). 

For twenty years he formed the artistic directorship, together with Harald Vogel, of the Dollard Festival in Groningen and Ostfriesland.  From 1998 to 2004  he was the (last) Producer of Organ concerts for NCRV broadcasting company and organized the organ music broadcasts on Dutch Radio 4.

As consultant Peter Westerbrink is involved in the plans for reconstruction of the 17th-century transept organ in the Der Aa-Kerk in Groningen and the planning of the relocation of the 16th-century organ in the church in Scheemda.  He has published about Matthias Weckman (ca. 1616-1674).

His discography includes recordings of the organs in Noordbroek, Groningen (Der Aa-Kerk, Nieuwe Kerk, and Pelstergasthuiskerk), Leens,  Dornum, Marienhafe, Noordwolde and Zandeweer.  The cd 'Groninger Orgelhistorie', recorded with a number of colleagues from Groningen, was awarded an Edison.