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The Dutch conductor, pianist and arranger, Johan Rooze, studied Classic Piano and Conducting at the Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands. His education was in Classical Music, but from childhood he was involved in Popular Music, Jazz and Music-Theatre. Later he went to the USA to study with Phil Mattson and Michelle Weir to specialize in Jazz Piano, Jazz Singing and Jazz Arranging.
Johan Rooze was conductor of the Utrecht University Vocal Group “Dekoor” (May 1995-January 2008) with whom he won many prizes, e.g. The Netherlands Choir Festival and The International Vocal Group Festival. In 2007 he won the first edition of the new “Idols for choir” TV show, “Korenslag” 2007 in the Netherlands, winning a record contract with Universal Music. He was the conductor of the Utrecht Student Symphonic Choir and Orchestra ((May 1995-January 2008)) who perform major oratorio works. With the two student choirs he made concert-tours to France, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, England, Belgium, Croatia, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Spain, Denmark, Russia, Canada, the USA, Korea and Taiwan. He was founder of the Dudok Ensemble, an outstanding Project Chamber Choir, conducted the monthly Utrechtse Bachcantatediensten, the Netherlands, and was guest conductor of the Netherlands Radio Choir.
Johan Rooze was Professor for Vocal Jazz, Choral Conducting and Arranging at the Conservatory of Rotterdam (March 2004-December 2007) and the School of Music and Media in Alkmaar (January 2000-January 2008), the Netherlands. He was member of the board of Musical advisors for the KCZB (Dutch Royal Christian Music Association) and Artistic Director for the IKF (International Choir Festival, Netherlands 2005).
Johan Rooze composed music for several Music Theatre Productions and is still very active as an arranger and composer.
In 2008 Johan Rooze moved to Daegu, South Korea and teaches music at Yeongnam University in Daegu. In March 2009 he founded Korea’s first jazz choir the Yaenoeul Jazz Singers ( 얘노을 재그 싱어즈 ). In 2010 he was asked by the city of Daegu to lead the professional Daegu Students Choir (대구 청년합창단). He also is a frequent guest conductor with other choirs. Since April 2021, he is Conductor at Beomeo Cathedral, Daegu.
Besides his choral work Johan Rooze is very active as a jazz piano player and teacher. He is Artistic Director Asia for the International Choral Organization “Interkultur” and is a frequently asked adjudicator, speaker and workshop-leader internationally. He is a member of the IFCM (International Federation of Choral Music) and the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association). |
