Bio
Arthur Klaassens is a multi-faceted and versatile Dutch oboist based in Los Angeles and active across the US and Europe. As an instrumentalist and an arranger/composer, he is always looking to shed new light on existing repertoire, as well as exploring new avenues of expression and meaning in music.
New developments have been a constant in his career. Last season he became the first Dutch owner of a Lupophone, a new type of bass oboe developed by Guntram Wolf. Making full use of this newly expanded instrumentarium he released his debut CD Ratio in March 2021 on the Dutch label 7MNTN Records, to much acclaim. Various new works have since been commissioned to include this exciting new instrument, and Arthur champions the instrument in concerts, festivals and masterclasses.
As a composer, he wrote many works including neere the Church doore, a piece for string quartet based on old english dances, that was also released on 7MNTN Records. As an arranger he has worked with many and various ensembles and orchestra’s, with his work appearing on many recordings and concert programs.
Arthur has extensive experience playing with professional ensembles and orchestras. He plays regularly with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and Brussels Philharmonic, and as principal oboe with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of The Hague, Phion, and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also a welcome guest in ensembles such as the ASKO|Schönberg ensemble, Combattimento and the Calefax reed quintet.
He is also an avid chamber musician, having co-founded Trio Cortado: a unique woodwind ensemble of flute, english horn and bass clarinet, for which he is the main arranger. In 2017 their CD Couleur Locale was released on 7MNTN Records.
As a soloist, Arthur has performed all over the world, giving recitals and playing oboe concerto's in The Netherlands, Kosovo, The United States and Tunisia. In 2009 he was a finalist in the Stichting Jong Muziektalent Nederland Competition for young musicians and received a number of prizes at the Princess Christina competition. In 2015 he appeared as a soloist on national television during the Liberation Day Concert in Amsterdam. Many pieces have been written for him, including a two hour piece by Klaas de Vries and the highly personal theatrical performance The Mirror in my Room by Celia Swart.
He graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague with a special distinction for the execution of the MacMillan Oboe Concerto. His teachers were Ali Groen, Hans Roerade, Lucas Macias Navarro, Karel Schoofs and Alexei Ogrintchouk, all of whom gave him a broad and internationally minded view of the oboe and music-making in general.
New developments have been a constant in his career. Last season he became the first Dutch owner of a Lupophone, a new type of bass oboe developed by Guntram Wolf. Making full use of this newly expanded instrumentarium he released his debut CD Ratio in March 2021 on the Dutch label 7MNTN Records, to much acclaim. Various new works have since been commissioned to include this exciting new instrument, and Arthur champions the instrument in concerts, festivals and masterclasses.
As a composer, he wrote many works including neere the Church doore, a piece for string quartet based on old english dances, that was also released on 7MNTN Records. As an arranger he has worked with many and various ensembles and orchestra’s, with his work appearing on many recordings and concert programs.
Arthur has extensive experience playing with professional ensembles and orchestras. He plays regularly with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and Brussels Philharmonic, and as principal oboe with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of The Hague, Phion, and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also a welcome guest in ensembles such as the ASKO|Schönberg ensemble, Combattimento and the Calefax reed quintet.
He is also an avid chamber musician, having co-founded Trio Cortado: a unique woodwind ensemble of flute, english horn and bass clarinet, for which he is the main arranger. In 2017 their CD Couleur Locale was released on 7MNTN Records.
As a soloist, Arthur has performed all over the world, giving recitals and playing oboe concerto's in The Netherlands, Kosovo, The United States and Tunisia. In 2009 he was a finalist in the Stichting Jong Muziektalent Nederland Competition for young musicians and received a number of prizes at the Princess Christina competition. In 2015 he appeared as a soloist on national television during the Liberation Day Concert in Amsterdam. Many pieces have been written for him, including a two hour piece by Klaas de Vries and the highly personal theatrical performance The Mirror in my Room by Celia Swart.
He graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague with a special distinction for the execution of the MacMillan Oboe Concerto. His teachers were Ali Groen, Hans Roerade, Lucas Macias Navarro, Karel Schoofs and Alexei Ogrintchouk, all of whom gave him a broad and internationally minded view of the oboe and music-making in general.