Biography

Esther Steenbergen feels at home in the classical, the contemporary and the Latin-American repertoire, performs as a soloist, in chamber music ensembles and as an accompanist of singers and instrumentalists.

She performed worldwide with the highly praised Amsterdam Guitar Trio, but nowadays especially can be listened to with her own trio performing Latin American music in a blend of classical, jazz and traditional style.

Besides playing the guitar Esther Steenbergen also has some organizing skills. She is responsible for the Meesters op de Gitaar concertseries in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Esther plays an instrument made by her husband, Dutch guitar builder Otto Vowinkel.

In my own words

The boy next door tried to win my heart by playing me a song but his guitar won my heart instead. I started lessons at the local music school but soon switched over to a private teacher who prepared me for the entrance exam of the conservatory of Rotterdam. While studying there I got to know Pavel Steidl who had come to live in the Netherlands after winning the legendary guitar competition organized by Radio France. Impressed by his musical skills, technique and personality I had private lessons with him for about a year. I still profit from the technical exercises he made do.

After having heard a recording of Hubert Käppel playing Bach and Kellner I went to study with him at the Musikhochschule Köln in Germany. During my studies I won the Maria Canals competition and started to develop what you could call a solo career. But touring and performing all by myself did not make me the happiest person in the world and I began to doubt the whole idea of being a classical guitarist. To broaden my view and  make up my mind I studied Musical Sciences in combination with Art Management at the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht. After that I worked as a producer for concert series Rumori, venue De IJsbreker and a radio program of broadcasting company NCRV a.o.

But blood is thicker than water. So I reopened my guitar case and became a guitarist again. Since then I tour around the world a.o. ten years as a member of the Amsterdam Guitar Trio. I got deeply affected by the Latin American repertoire, Spanish music and music from Bach and before. Approximately every two year I make a CD.  And because the former organizer moved to another part of the country and we both agreed that it would be a pity if there wouldn’t remain a guitar series in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, I produce Meesters op de Gitaar.

Now a days my life consists of performing, writing and producing. I feel at home in a wide variety of styles and genres. With my trio I play the Latin American repertoire in a blend of classical, jazz and traditional music. As a soloist I play classical and contemporary music. I play chamber music, accompany singers and instrumental soloists. Occasionally I take part in music theater productions.