Peter-Jan Wagemans

Who is Peter-Jan Wagemans?

Peter-Jan Wagemans is a Dutch composer.

Wagemans studied organ, composition with Jan van Vlijmen and music theory at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. After his studies he also worked with Klaus Huber in Freiburg.

According to Wagemans' philosophy, music is shaped in the observation of the listener. Therefore Wagemans tries to focus on ways a work can be recognised, rather than on its fundamental structure. He generally makes use of what he prefers to call musical archetypes, unifying ambivalent elements.

Peter-Jan Wagemans is one of the founders of the Rotterdam School. He teaches composition and music theory at the Rotterdam Conservatory since 1984.

Wagemans founded the Dutch Doelen Ensemble and for some years was also the artistic director of the Amsterdam-based Holland Symfonia.