“Zet die deuren open vanbinnen!” Ben van Oosten retires as conservatory professor

Ben van Oosten (born in Den Haag, 1955) is one of the most prominent organists of his generation.  He enjoys great international fame as concert organist.  His love of the French symphonic organ repertoire is shown in cd recordings of the complete organ works of Vierne, Widor, Dupré, Saint-Saëns, and most recently, César Franck.

In addition he was the principal organ teacher at the Rotterdam Conservatory (Codarts) from 1994, and retired this year having reached the appropriate age.

His former pupil Bert den Hertog interviewed him in his home in the center of The Hague, where Ben lives with his wife Margaret, speaking about teaching, and also his own student days, the present-day organ student, and developments in current organ culture.