Koen started his career in musical theater, covering opera, operetta, vocal works and musicals. He has a passion for Italian opera (especially Verdi and Puccini) as well as R. Strauss. True to the motto of Leonard Bernstein:

 

'There is no “serious” music or “unserious” music, just good music and bad music' 

 

he also loves to conduct contemporary musicals. In the symphonic world he has conducted works from  Bach to Bernstein and beyond. 

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TIMELINE

 

1984-1989       Stadttheater Klagenfurt: Répétiteur and conductor

 

1989-2001       Musiktheater im Revier Gelsenkirchen: conductor / guest conductor

 

1992-1994       Operettenhaus Hamburg: musical director for Cats

 

1994-2001       Neue Metropol Hamburg: artistic director for Buddy Holly Story

 

1999-2001       Neue Metropol Bremen: artistic director and md for Jekyll & Hyde

 

2001-2003       Friedrichstadtpalast Berlin: conductor

 

2003-2005       Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf/Duisburg: conductor

 

2004-               Guest conductor Komische Oper Berlin

 

2005-               Guest conductor Konzert und Theater St. Gallen

 

2005-2010       Freelance conductor and arranger

 

2010-2018       Vereinigte Bühnen Wien: music director

 

2018-                Freelance conductor and arranger

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OTHER NOTEWORTHY EVENTS

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2019-2020         Opéra National du Rhin Strasbourg – Fiddler on the Roof (Bock)

2006                  Operett Szinház Budapest – Rudolf (World Premiere – Wildhorn)

2012                  Umeda Arts Center, Osaka and Theater Orb, Tokyo – Elisabeth in Concert (Levay)

2012-2021         EMK Productons Seoul – Rudolf, The Count of Monte Cristo, Xcalibur (Wildhorn), Elisabeth, Mozart! (Levay)

2017                  Musical Comedy St. Petersburg – Wildhorn & Friends in Concert

2017                  De Doelen Rokerdam – Musical Meets Opera – Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

2022                  Musikverein Vienna – Wiener Symphoniker - Donau Symphonie (World Premiere – Wildhorn)

2024                  Odeon of Herodes Atticus Athens - Septic Flesh live in Concert with the Athens State Orchestra

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PRIZES AND AWARDS

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2011                   Gold and Platinum DVD – Die Zauberflöte Opernfestpiele St. Margarethen

2009                  Berlin Audience Award – Best Musical Theater Production of the Season: Kiss Me, Kate

2012                  Golden CD – Elisabeth – 20-year Anniversary Production Vienna

2018                  Berlin Audience Award – Best Musical Theater Production of the Season: fiddler on the Roof

2021                  German Musical Academy – Best Arrangements for a new Show: Wüstenblume (Desert Flower)