Organ lunchbreakconcert with Arjen Leistra

Arjen Leistra (Delft, 1973) received his first organ lessons from Christiaan Ingelse at the Delft Music School. From 1990 to 1998 he studied organ and church music at the conservatories in Rotterdam and The Hague respectively. His teachers were Arie Keijzer and Ben van Oosten (organ DM and UM) and Marijke van Klaveren and Johann Th. Lemckert (church music and improvisation).

In 1996 Arjen became 2nd prize winner of the “International Organcompetition” in Dublin (Ireland). After graduating in 1998, he continued his organ studies with Marie-Claire Alain in Paris for a year.

From 1996 to the end of 2009 Arjen was cantor-organist of the Hoflaan Church in Rotterdam-Kralingen. Since September 2008 he has been organist at the Grote Kerk in Schiedam. In this church he is also conductor of the choir Vocalis St. Jan. In 2014 Arjen was appointed city organist of Schiedam. As a result, he is responsible for the management and playing of the historic organs in the Grote Kerk, the Havenkerk and the Stedelijk Museum.

Arjen gives concerts throughout the Netherlands and has also performed in England, Germany, Finland, France, Italy and Slovakia. In November 2005 and February 2008 he made concert tours to the United States and gave recitals in Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina. Arjen has an extensive teaching practice in Schiedam and is a much sought-after accompanist of various choirs and soloists on organ, piano, pressure harmonium and as a continuo player on his own chest organ. Several CDs of his organ playing have been released in recent years.