The Dutch bassoonist, organist, organist and conductor, Ab Weegenaar, grew up in Groningen. After high school he went to the Stedelijk Conservatorium in Groningen. He obtained a diploma in Performing Musician from the Stedelijk Conservatorium in Groningen. He studied organ with Wim van Beek and a practical diploma in church music with Kees van Eersel. He graduated in 2003 in choral conducting at the Hogeschool IDE in Gorinchem.
As a bassoonist Ab Weegenaar worked with the Noordelijk Filharmonisch Orkest and the Residentie Orkest Den Haag. Subsequently he became a bassoonist with Het Gelders Orkest. In his own words, due to lack of time, he stopped doing this.
Ab Weegenaar is titular organist of the Hinsz organ in the Bovenkerk (Kampen). In the past he was an organist at churches in Groningen, Leidschendam, Arnhem and Wageningen. In 1995 he was appointed as successor to Willem Hendrik Zwart as organist of the Bovenkerk Kampen. In that position he plays the Hinsz organ from 1742 and the Reil organ from 1999. He is also conductor of COV Dieren, the Bovenkerk Kamerkoor and gives organ lessons to about 50 students from all over the country. Every year he gives many organ concerts at home and abroad. In 2005 he made a trip to Russia, where he gave two concerts in Omsk.
Discography: Psalm 22 appeared in a collection of the VOGG. Music publisher Cantique in Rijssen published a psalm adaptation of Psalm 5. Ab Weegenaar has released several CD's. With Arthur Mahler (oboe) he recorded a CD with pieces by W.A. Mozart that were originally intended for flute, violin and piano. He contributed to a DVD by Willem van Twillert (Improvisata I and II), recorded at the Bovenkerk in Kampen. The recordings can also be viewed on his YouTube channel. |