This is Patrick
Patrick van der Linden is a passionate and inspiring conductor and music theorist.
He believes in the power of art to touch lives, inspire individuals, connect communities, and ultimately make the world a better place. This conviction drives his mission to extend the impact of classical music to new audiences. Van der Linden has a gift for inspiring a wide range of ensembles, from amateur to professional, young to old, to work together in ways that transcend their individual abilities. He is especially devoted to nurturing and developing young musical talent.
Van der Linden is the artistic director of Ars Musica and principal conductor of the Ars Musica Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Orchestra. He also conducts the Zeeuws Vocaal Ensemble, the Haags Toonkunstkoor, and Fiori Musicali. In addition, he teaches at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.
His concert programs are known for their thoughtful curation and unexpected connections, often resonating with contemporary social themes. Van der Linden commands a broad spectrum of musical styles. His affinity for Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms is complemented by an in-depth study of 19th-century performance practice. He also places significant focus on repertoire from after 1900, having premiered works by composers such as Daan Manneke, Geerten Liefting, Hans Lachmann, and Patrick van Deurzen.
In 2024, as part of the multi-year project Felix 2022–2029, the CD Wunderkind Felix was released on Channel Classics, featuring works by the young Mendelssohn. The French magazine Diapason awarded the recording five stars, praising:
“Patrick van der Linden’s interpretation stands out for its lightness, dynamism, and balance. (...) Crystal-clear strings without vibrato, whispering woodwinds, and angelic voices create a serene atmosphere. Intimate and sensitive.”
In May 2025, Van der Linden conducted a powerful program themed Peace and Freedom, featuring works by Mendelssohn, Stravinsky, and Eisler. In September 2025, Ars Musica will make its debut at the Concertgebouw under his baton, performing Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2 (Lobgesang). The urgency and relevance of his programming will be further highlighted in the Forbidden Felix concerts of October 2025, featuring, among other works, Shostakovich’s String Symphony Op. 110.
During the 2024–2025 season, Van der Linden was guest conductor of Vocaal Ensemble Coqu, performing The Seven Last Words by Daan Manneke and Franz Liszt’s Via Crucis. He also appeared as guest conductor with the Royal Military Band Johan Willem Friso and conducted at festivals in Germany and Austria. Additionally, he is regularly invited to give concert introductions, musical presentations for companies, and to coach conducting workshops. His expertise is frequently sought by chamber music ensembles and orchestras.
Though a musician through and through, Patrick’s interests are wide-ranging: he also studied economics and is passionate about other art forms, philosophy, (art) symbolism, history, and religion.