Introducing…

Robbert Jan de Neeve: programme maker classical music

Robbert Jan started as a programme maker at the Concertzender at the end of last year. He worked for many years in different functions concerned with the promotion of classical music in the Netherlands before retiring several years ago.

Pure classical

“I make the weekly programme ‘Pure Classical’, which features only music from the Classical period, the period from 1750 to 1830. I select the music, write the text
for the programme and perform all the associated administrative tasks. In fact, this is the work that all the programme makers do.”

Volunteer work

“I first got into contact with Sem de Jongh, the director of the Concertzender, via LinkedIn. That was in November last year. I has previously worked with him a few times during my period at Classic FM and he asked me if I was interested in making programmes again. And that is what has happened. I like the idea of volunteer work and this allows me to make my experience with radio and music available to the Concertzender.”

Musical career

Robbert Jan is married and has two children and a grandchild. His career is full of music. He is
a musicologist and worked for the NOS from 1979 to 1993. “I started as a programme maker, and was later in charge of the Serious Music department,
where I was responsible for
both internal and external management, as well as some operational tasks. For example, the development of new pro-
grammes, the coordination of concert recordings, representing the NOS in the European Radio Union, and projects with various music centres and music acade-
mies. It is too much to mention it all, but it was all very interesting and I learned a lot. After 23 years at the NOS I moved to Classic FM. My functions there included Music Director. In 1999, I again made a move, this time
to a management function at the Academy of Fine Arts, Music and Dance in The Hague. There I had many responsibilities and I still do some work for them. All in all, I don't have much time for sitting around. And then there is also the volunteer work at the tennis club, for the residents committee and now for the Concertzender.”

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