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BIOGRAPHY

With his unique interpretations and colourful approach to the organ, Steven Knieriem (2001) is one of the youngest upcoming organists from The Netherlands of the moment.

He works with orchestras, choirs, and as a soloist, displaying an affinity for various musical genres from Bach to contemporary music.

Additionally, he creates transcriptions of orchestral and piano works for the organ, including Dvořák’s Hussite Overture and Carl Nielsen’s Aladdin-Suite.

A prize winner of several competitions, he was rewarded with the second prize at the 2017 Ambitus Organ Competition in the St. Bavokerk in Haarlem, the second prize at the 2018 international organ competition ‘Orgues à Douai’ in the Collégiale Saint Pierre de Douai (France) and the second prize at the 2019 national Ambitus Organ Competition in the Laurenskerk in Rotterdam. In 2021, he made it to the final round of the esteemed St Albans International Organ Competition.

As an active recitalist, Steven performs in major organ series across The Netherlands (St. Bavo Haarlem, Westerkerk Amsterdam, Laurenskerk Rotterdam, Grote Kerk Den Haag), in Germany (Dom Paderborn, Marktkirche Wiesbaden, St. Peter und Paul Ratingen, St. Andreaskirche Düsseldorf) and in France and Italy.

Steven’s work with orchestras and choirs took him to concert halls such as the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, where he played Mahler’s 2nd Symphony.

In November 2023 he played the Fauré Requiem with Philharmonie Zuidnederland.

Furthermore, Steven is often playing Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, cantatas, as well as music by Schütz (Musikalische Exequien), Carissimi (Jephte) and English Choral Music (Evensongs). As a soloist, Steven performed the Organ Concerto by Francis Poulenc with orchestra.

At the age of 9, Steven began his organ studies at the Zeeland Music School. Under the guidance of Ben van Oosten in Rotterdam, he learned a wide range of symphonic repertoire for the organ.

Steven expanded his musical knowledge through masterclasses with renowned organists like Louis Robilliard, Olivier Latry, Michel Bouvard, Sietze de Vries, and Reitze Smits.

Presently, he is studying with Christian Schmitt and Zuzana Ferjenčíková, further enriching his musical journey.