Theo Bruins

Who was Theo Bruins?

Theo Bruins was a Dutch pianist and composer.

Bruins' earliest piano lessons were with his mother. His professional piano studies commenced in 1946 with Jaap Spaanderman at the Conservatoire of the Amsterdam Muzieklyceum Foundation. Starting in 1948 he studied with Yves Nat and from 1951 studied composition with Kees van Baaren.

In the meanwhile he had started a successful career as a performing concert pianist, which took him to North America and South America, and throughout Europe, as well as to Indonesia. Amongst others he played as a soloist with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. For a recital in London he received the Harriet Cohen Beethoven Medal in 1959. He taught at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. Among his students are Bart Berman and Fred Oldenburg.

Bruins' compositions are few in number, but nevertheless well noted. All his works were published by Donemus and collected on one album by the Q Disc label. His Syncope for harpsichord appears also on a collection by NM Music.