Wietse Stuurman

Born on 2 december 1976, Wietse Stuurman studied music since he was 8 years old with several teachers, resulting studying composition and conducting. In 1996 he began his study musicology at the Amsterdam University with special interest in ancient music. This interest in ancient music can be recognized in his compositions, strong melodic lines with an almost gregorian character supported by bourdon tones as being used in this style of ''new spiritual music''.

As well as being influenced by the old masters like Josquin, Dufay, Ockeghem and Obrecht, he also gets inspired by contemporary composers like Arvo Pärt, Giya Kanchelli and Henryk Gorecki.

In 1999 Wietse got in contact with Dutch composer Henk Nieland (* 1938). At this time Nieland was composing an opera named ''In Touch'' wich should be performed in Bratislawa (Slovenska Republica) in 2000. In the summer of 2000 Nieland worked together with Stuurman on the orchestral parts of the work. They finished it in august 2000 in Budapest (Hungary). Besides having written a large number of vocal works, Stuurman wrote music for solo piano, small orchestra (or as he prefers to call it; ''orchestra unica''), grand orchestra and even works for piano and double bass. Next to being a composer, Stuurman is a well experienced conductor for choir as well as orchestra. Every day he is working with one of the 5 ensembles he leads, varying from chamber choir to orchestra. At the end of 2004 Stuurman formed a small vocal group named; the Lapis Ensemble. This to perform his own compositions on a professional level.