Thirsa Brokking| Organ |Utrecht Conservatory

Within Carpenter Concerts, we believe it is important not only to share the music of young musicians, but also the story behind the musician. For this interview, we spoke with organist Thirsa, who is currently studying at the Utrecht Conservatory and preparing for her bachelor final recital.

How did you first begin making music?

“Music has really always been there. In our home, music was part of daily life, it was truly instilled in me from a very young age. Shortly before I turned eight, I started taking organ lessons. My father taught me the very first foundations of organ playing.”

Was there someone who inspired you to start making music yourself?

“Yes, absolutely my father. What he was able to create from the organ was so beautiful, I wanted to be able to do that too. That inspired me enormously.”

You have studied with several well-known organists. Which teachers have played an important role in your development?

“After my first lessons, I started studying with Evert van de Veen. Later, I continued my musical development with Rien Donkersloot, who prepared me for conservatory studies. During my studies I was taught by Reitze Smits. He has probably influenced me and my playing more than anyone else. Both his enthusiasm and his remarkable musicianship are incredibly inspiring. He had a very clear vision of musical style, and that definitely shaped my own musical perspective. After he retired, I studied with Laurens de Man, from whom I also learned a tremendous amount.”

What does music mean to you personally?

“To me, music is the most beautiful language that connects people. What I love about music is that you can touch people’s hearts with it, and bring joy both to others and to yourself. I can express almost everything in music. What I also find so special is that you can never fully learn everything about it. There is so much beauty and so much to discover, it is endless.”

Where do you find inspiration when studying a new piece?

“I find it very interesting to immerse myself in the historical background of a piece. What was happening during that time? How did the composer live? That helps me understand the music more deeply. I also enjoy listening to recordings by other musicians. That can give me completely new insights as well.”

What does your life currently look like?

“At the moment, I am in the final year of my conservatory studies at the Utrecht Conservatory. Right now I am mainly focused on preparing for my bachelor final recital and completing my final assignments. Besides that, I have my own teaching practice where I guide young musicians in their musical development.”

As an organist, you often perform solo. Do you also enjoy collaborating with other musicians?

“Very much so. As an organist, you spend a lot of time alone behind the organ, which makes making music together with others extra special to me. I have performed several times with family members, which is naturally very special in a musical family. I also perform with fellow students and with my former fellow student Annerieke van den Broek.”

Do you have a special memory connected to a concert?

“Yes, during a concert in Woerden I met my boyfriend. He attended the concert as a listener. We hope to get married next year.”

Do you have any rituals before performing?

“Yes, I often do what we call ‘silent playing’. That means I leave the organ motor switched off and play part of a piece without sound. I usually do this a few minutes before a concert begins. Every organ feels different: the distance between the keys, the position of the pedals, and so on. By doing that, I become familiar with the instrument again.”

And finally: what kind of music do you listen to privately?

“Honestly, I only listen to classical music.” ;-)