Robert Bekkers

About:

Born near Eindhoven (the Netherlands) Robert Bekkers received his first music lesson at the age of 6. So keen was he to play the guitar that he built his own semi-accoustic at the age of twelve. After his formal training, he went to the Conservatory of Maastricht where he obtained his teaching and master's degrees in classical guitar. During his studies there, Robert actively participated in international master classes with Costas Cotsiolis, Hubert Kappel, David Russell, Pepe Romero, Dale Kavanach, Abel Carlevaro, Alexander Frauchi, amongst others.

A scholarship from the Dutch Government enabled him to study abroad with the guitarist and composer Angelo Gilardino at the Accademia Superiore Internazionale di Musica "Lorenzo Perosi" in Biella, Italy and the Conservatory of Alessandria, where he developed his knowledge of both guitar technique as well as insights into the contemporary guitar repertoire.

Robert has always been active in multiple disciplines: While accompanying flamenco dance classes, Robert formed the group "IMPETU" consisting of 9 musicians and dancers, mixing flamenco and classical music, he played Mexican music with the group Serenata Mexicana in the Netherlands, between 1997 and 1999, he toured with the Amstel Guitar Quartet, and he has been performing in the band of the internationally known flute player Berdien Stenberg and improvisation artist Jan Vayne. As a result of this wide range of activities, Robert is versatile in classical, flamenco, and other styles, with classical guitar at the core of it all.

In recent years, Robert has focused on performing new compositions and arrangements in a variety of settings. One of such projects is to perform works composed for his piano and guitar duo with Anne Ku. The composers Erik Otte and Allan Segall dedicated works to them.

Robert obtained a doctoral candidate at the New England Conservatory in Boston where he was fortunate to have a chance to collaborate and work with visionary artist Eliot Fisk. Robert is a classical guitar instructor at Gordon College in Wenham, at the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, and at the Middlesex Community College. He continues to actively perform as a soloist as well as collaborating with other virtuosos.