Gerben
Grooten studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands and graduated
in classical orchestral percussion and then obtained a Masters degree in
classical percussion performing arts. He also obtained a Masters in symphony
orchestra and choir conducting. His other subjects were piano, cello,
methodology, didactics, and psychology. “We musicians are such a different
brand of people - psychology is a necessary study.”
He comes from a musical family - his father, mother and his brother and sister
share his gift of making sweet and moving sounds. “For me, the urge was always
there - at two I started percussion.”
From a very young age – 13 – Gerben worked as a professional player in
orchestras, performing, touring and recording in Europe, and the USA. When he
was 16 he started combining work and study. He performed in and later conducted
various choirs, professional orchestras and contemporary ensembles as well as
Broadway musical shows. When he was 25 he became a deputy director at a
creative arts school where he taught classical percussion. He was also a
project coordinator and orchestra and choir conductor.
And then 5 years later, he changed his classical career into a new direction:
He started travelling the world as a drummer with Christian bands, he fell in
love with people again. “This way and style of playing drums/music was new for
me. I re-found so much passion. It was an experience of becoming who I was
meant to be!” Since being called to the ministry, he has worked with various
ministries and organizations around the world giving workshops and
team-building and leadership seminars in the areas of music and worship.
Gerben has conducted several productions in this country, among them Annie,
Fiddler on the Roof and several musical productions for TV with a South African
flavour. He has also been involved in several projects of the University of
Pretoria Symphony Orchestra< as a percussion player and drummer, and as
assistant conductor of the SA National Youth Symphony orchestra in 2008.
He is presently the principal conductor for the Pretoria Symphony Orchestra and
together with his wife Mieke he heads up the worship department, a music
school, a music publishing company and a worship academy at Hatfield Christian
Church in Pretoria where they have lived since 2005.