Jacques van Oortmerssen, organist, composer and conductor, Died at 65

  Music

Jacques van Oortmerssen was born in 1950, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and died on November 21, 2015.

He studied at the Conservatory of Rotterdam, where he completed his soloist diplomas for both the organ, as a student of André Verwoerd, and for piano as a student of Elly Salomé.

However, Jacques undertook postgraduate study with Marie-Claire Alain in Paris (France).

Jacques was awarded the Prix d’ Excellence in 1976.

Jacques won the first prize in 1977, for the National Improvisation Competition in Bolsward (NL) and was runner-up in the Tournemire Prize in St Albans (England).

He has been the professor of organ at the Conservatory of Amsterdam (NL) since 1979, where his successful organ class attracts students from many countries.

In 1982, Jacques succeeded Gustav Leonhardt as Organiste Titulaire of the Waalse kerk in Amsterdam, where he plays the famous 1734 Christian Müller organ. Oortmerssen enjoyed an international reputation as both soloist and pedagogue, which means he is regularly invited to teach at Universities and Conservatories throughout the world.

Jacques van Oortmerssen passed away at 65 yrs old on November 21, 2015.