Nieck De Groot

One of the most prominent double-bass players of our times, the Dutch Niek de Groot started to play the double-bass at the age of 18. He studied at Banff Centre of arts in Canada and attended master classes with eminent cellists Frans Helmerson, Lluìs Claret, Laurence Lesser. He played under the direction of such great musicians, as Leonard Bernstein, György Sebök, Mstislav Rostropovich. In a short period of time he became a principal bass at several European orchestras and was appointed a 10-year tenure as principal Solo-Bass with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Over the last years Niek de Groot has dedicated himself to chamber music and solo performances, working often with contemporary composers such as Kurtág, Stockhausen, Saariaho, Vasks and Gubaidulina. His recordings of Brahms, Hindemith, Hoffmeister, Rossini met with big success. Since 1996, Niek is Senior Professor for Double Bass at the Folkwang University of Arts, Essen, Germany. He also taught in Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and regularly gives master classes worldwide. Many of his former and current students play in Europe's foremost orchestras and ensembles. Through his career, Niek de Groot has played on rare double basses by Cerutti, Bajoni and Amati. Since 2016 he got the lifelong privilege to play the world famous Domenico Montagnana double bass, dating from 1747. His bows are especially made for him by Jochen Schmidt.