Willem Tanke

Willem Tanke studied organ and improvisation with Jan Welmers, music theory with Joep Straesser and electronic music with Ton Bruynel at the Utrecht Conservatory. In 1985, he finished his studies with the Performance Diploma for Organ with full marks (the grade of 10 and honours), and also with diplomas for music theory and improvisation.From 1988 until 2000, Willem Tanke was a professor of organ as a main subject at Utrecht University of Professional Arts Education. Presently, he is head of the theory department and a professor of improvisation at Rotterdam Conservatoire, where he also organizes annual Messiaen Study Days, including masterclasses for organ.Willem Tanke is a critically acclaimed performer of organ works by J.S. Bach, Max Reger and Olivier Messiaen. His recording of Messiaen's complete oeuvre on eight CDs has been selected as Star Recording in The Organ. For this achievement, the Société académique 'Arts-Sciences-Lettres' in Paris awarded him the Diplôme de médaille d'argent.From the early 90's, as an improviser and a composer, he developed an original and innovative vocabulary and contributed towards new ways of playing keyboard instruments.