Matijs de Roo - Biography

Matijs de Roo (1977) studied composition with David Rowland and classical piano with Benno Pierwijer and Christo Illiev at the ARTEZ conservatory in Enschede. In 2002 het graduated as a pianist and continued his composition lessons at the Royal conservatory in The Hague with Diderik Wagenaar and Martijn Padding. After graduating in The Hague, he did the masters course with Klaas de Vries at the Codarts conservatory in Rotterdam. He graduated Cum Laude and received a 'special prize for composition'.

During his studies he took part in several composition courses in Arnhem (NL), Dartington (GB), Royaumont (FR) and Canada with composition teachers such as James Fulkerson, Darryl Runswick, Jo Kondo, Pavel Novak, Brian Ferneyhough, Stefano Gervasoni and Pascal Dusapin.

His music has been performed in Holland, Germany, France, England, Hungary, Switzerland, Russia, Canada, Australia and the USA, by musicians and ensembles such as: Erik Bosgraaf, Simone Lamsma, Izhar Elias, Robert Smith, Holland Symfonia, Le Quator Diotima, Nieuw Ensemble, Asko ensemble, the New Music Players, Doelen ensemble, The Hague Philharmonic, Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Call Arts ensemble, Belinfante quartet, the Netherlands Chamber Choir and the Ensemble Modern de Montreal.

De Roo's music is expressive and often deals with current themes. For example, he wrote the orchestral work 'Lines concerning the unknown soldier' about the Kosovo War, as well as a violin concerto dealing with war and freedom of speech. This latter work, 'And the centuries surround me with fire', is based on texts from a blog written by a teenage girl from Iraq.

Alongside his work as a composer, Matijs de Roo is a lecturer in music therapy at Utrecht University of applied Sciences and teaches improvisation in music in the master's programme at the Codarts conservatory in Rotterdam. He is also the creator of the Smart Improv-method, a form of conducted improvisation in which a conductor guides a group of improvising musicians through hand and arm gestures. 

More information about the Smart Improv-method? Click below!