About

Sjoerd Haver is an ambitious conductor from the Netherlands. From a young age he started to combine his passion for orchestras with his talent for organisation. This combination made him into a conductor with strong communicative and collaborative skills. At this moment, he is chief conductor at Kamerorkest Midden Holland, Orkest van het Groene Hart, artistic director, co-founder and conductor at the Ensemble Project Foundation (STEP) and string section coach and regular substitute at the CREA Orchestra in Amsterdam. In 2023, Sjoerd’s international career kicked of with a masterclass by Jorma Panula, assisting Martijn Dendievel at the Youth Orchestra Flanders and participating at the Berlin Opera Academy.

At the Noord-Hollands Jeugdorkest, under the baton of Bas Pollard, Sjoerd got the opportunity to conduct a part of the dress rehearsal in Gustav Holst – The Planets. As this was such an inspiring event for the young musician, he decided to start taking lessons at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with Jacob Slagter and Lucas Vis shortly hereafter. Finishing his first conducting subject with a mark 10 out of 10 gave Sjoerd the confidence needed to pursue a career in conducting. After finishing his Masters Degree with Etienne Siebens, Sander Teepen and Ivo Meinen, he continues to push his boundaries by taking lessons with René Gulikers and regularly following masterclasses.

Sjoerd’s international career started in 2023 when he was selected to participate at the International Conducting Masterclass by Jorma Panula with the Siamo Orchestra. In 2024 Sjoerd led the fernorchester of Mahler – Symphony No. 2 at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and assisted Martijn Dendievel in Mahler – Symphony No. 1 with the Youth Orchestra Flanders. In the 24/25 season, Sjoerd participated in the Amadeus masterclass with the Bazzini Consort and worked with Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana in a workshop of Puccini – Turandot.

In recent years, Sjoerd has taken a big interest in music theatre and opera. After his first big professional project Paradiso (2023), Sjoerd have been invited back as Musical Director to work on Sacre (2026) in a co-production by Orchestra Phion, Dance Company Introdans and Theatre Group Oostpool. In 2024, Sjoerd was selected as an assistant conductor at the Berlin Opera Academy. In eight weeks he assisted first Tom Seligman in Mozart – Le Nozze di Figaro and then David Kram in Humperdinck – Hänsel und Gretel. Since returning from the academy, Sjoerd has been in contact with musicians and directors for future opera projects in 2025 and 2026.

In addition to his professional endeavours and his roles at the Kamerorkest Midden Holland, Orkest van het Groene Hart, the Ensemble Project Foundation (STEP) and the CREA Orchestra Amsterdam, Sjoerd enjoys working with high level amateur musicians and students in The Netherlands. Highlights include staged productions of Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker, scratch concerts with Wind Band Soli Driehuis, the Dutch premier of Michael Daugherty – Tales of Hemingway and many conservatory final exams. As a substitute conductor, Sjoerd regularly works with ensembles such as Philharmonic Orchestra Mozart, Wageningen Student Choir and Orchestra Association, Wind Ensemble Timber and Utrechts Vocaal Ensemble.