The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra has appointed Henk Swinnen as manager artistic affairs with effect from 1 February 2011. Swinnen (40) won his spurs as solo oboist and administrator with several orchestras and ensembles in Belgium and the Netherlands, and is currently artistic manager of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Radio Chamber Philharmonic. At the Rotterdam Philharmonic he will develop the artistic policy, which is geared to international growth, local embedding and distinctive initiatives for new target groups. Henk Swinnen succeeds Michael Fine, who will remain attached to the orchestra as senior artistic advisor and, as an independent producer, will concentrate more on CD recordings.

Henk Swinnen was born in 1970 and has been closely associated with the Netherlands since the start of his education and career. He studied the oboe in Brussels and Rotterdam, and art history in Leuven. As solo oboist Swinnen was attached to the Antwerp Beethoven Academy, the Radio Chamber Orchestra, the Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, and the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra; he also taught at the Rotterdam Conservatoire and has made a name for himself as a chamber musician and soloist. Since his student days Swinnen has been active as an administrator as well: he was vice-chairman of the Flemish trade union OVUM and a member of the Board of the Combattimento Consort Amsterdam. Henk Swinnen is currently artistic manager of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Radio Chamber Philharmonic.

At the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Henk Swinnen will continue to shape an artistic policy oriented to international growth, local embedding and distinctive initiatives for new target groups. The orchestra has already had great success in these domains with tours to East Asia and North America, a multiannual residency at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, a long-term community projects programme and a series of much-praised recordings, including the international prize-winning Ravel CD with met music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Future plans include a Berlioz CD (January 2011) and a tour of South America (June and July 2011).

‘The arrival of a top-quality employee like Henk Swinnen is the last in a series of acquisitions that have strengthened the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra team considerably and have prepared it for the challenges that lie ahead’ says managing director Hans Waege. The arrival of Jelle Dierickx as artistic coordinator of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Gergiev Festival was announced in November. Prior to that, Marit van Die, who had previously worked for Houthoff Buruma, was engaged as sponsoring manager. Mathilde Boudesteijn-de Boer was appointed HR manager, having worked for companies such as Shell International and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

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