Biography
Marijke Schröer, classical saxophonist, passionate chamber musician, programmer, advisor and entrepreneur.
As a dedicated chamber musician, Marijke is a member of the Melisma Saxophone Quartet, the Noota Saxophone Duo, the Netherlands Saxophone Octet, and forms duo Saxyon together with accordionist Ellen Zijm. She has performed across Europe, China, Japan and Mexico, appearing at prestigious venues including the National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing, Izumi Hall Osaka, CCMAS Morelia, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Utzon Center Aalborg and Casino Bern.
Marijke has performed at numerous festivals, including the Davos Festival (Switzerland), the Grieg in Bergen Festival (Norway), the EURO Chamber Music Festival Gdansk (Poland) and Festival Classique (The Hague). Her concerts have been recorded and broadcast by national radio stations in the Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, Switzerland and Denmark.
A number of composers have dedicated works to her, among them Bernard van Beurden, Ad Wammes, Koldo Pastor, Enrique Mendoza, Christian Lauba, Dolf de Kinkelder and Luis Aguirre. Marijke has also initiated inspiring projects in which she shared the stage with yoginis, choirs, dancers, actors and many fellow musicians.
The debut album of the Netherlands Saxophone Octet, Canto Ostinato, presented at a sold-out Concertgebouw Amsterdam, was met with critical acclaim, as were No Filter by Saxyon, the debut album of the Melisma Saxophone Quartet, and West Side Story recorded with violinist Gwendolyn Masin.
Marijke completed her master's degree at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under Arno Bornkamp. She obtained her bachelor's degree at the Prins Claus Conservatoire under Peter Stam.
Financial support from the Stichting Eigen Muziekinstrument made the acquisition of her baritone saxophone possible, and a cultural grant from the Cultuurfonds enabled the purchase of her bass saxophone.
Alongside her work as a saxophonist, Marijke is the artistic director of the Uitgast Festival in Lelystad, head programmer of the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, and works as an advisor for the Performing Arts Fund NL (Fonds Podiumkunsten).
