Biography

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FRANS-AERT BURGHGRAEF

CONDUCTOR

"He is talented, knows what he wants and is very able to show the orchestra.”

Edo de Waart about Frans-Aert Burghgraef

Education and masterclasses

Frans-Aert Burghgraef studied orchestral conducting at the conservatoires of Groningen and Utrecht. From an international selection of two hundred conductors he was invited to attend a masterclass with maestro Bernhard Haitink, as part of the renowned Lucerne Festival. Maestro Edo de Waart selected him to conduct a concert with Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. September 2018 Mr. Burghgraef was admitted to a much sought after masterclass with Dima Slobodeniouk and his Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia in A Coruña.

Engagements

From the start of his conducting career in 2014 Mr. Burghgraef conducted almost all Dutch symphony orchestras, such as Rotterdam Philharmonic, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, South Netherlands Philharmonic, The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra, and Phion.

His international engagements include St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Luzern Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, and assisting James Gaffigan in La Fanciulla del West with the Bayerische Staatsoper.

2015-2018 Mr. Burghgraef’s worked as assistant conductor with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. In that capacity he assisted chief conductor maestro Markus Stenz, as well as guest conductors such as David Zinman, Edo de Waart, James Gaffigan, Vasily Petrenko, Kevin John Edusei, Dima Slobodeniouk, Sir Mark Elder, Martyn Brabbins, Edward Gardner, and Bernard Haitink. 2019 Mr. Burghgraef conducted the orchestra in the premiere recording of Hans Kox’ Symphony nr. 6. In the summer of 2021 he conducted music from Der Ring des Nibelungen in a series of concerts with Netherlands Student Orchestra. January 2022 Mr. Burghgraef conducted The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic in his debut in the renowned series Zaterdagmatinee.

Awards & grants

January 2015 maestro Burghgraef was awarded the first prize in the renowned Taipei International Conducting Competition. Chairman of the jury was the illustrious Finnish conductor, coach and scout Jorma Panula. Following the competition Mr. Burghgraef was invited to conduct the Taipei Chinese Orchestra in May 2017. December 2015 Frans-Aert received in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw the prestigious Kersjes Conducting Grant. This important € 15.000,- three year talent development grant is named after the illustrious Dutch conductor and advocate of young talent Anton Kersjes.

Supporting young talent

Mr. Burghgraef is a keen supporter of young talent. 2017 He coached young musicians from all over Europe in a project instigated by The Royal Conservatoire The Hague. Furthermore in 2017 he conducted eight concerts with NESKO, Dutch Student Chamber Orchestra