As of the upcoming academic year a new Head of the Jazz department will take office: Bart Suèr. He will replace Susanne Abbuehl who has led the department since the beginning of 2020. Bart is looking forward to meeting the students, faculty, and various national and international partners, and to build upon the department’s unique tradition and innovation for which it is known.
Background
Suèr studied at the Royal Conservatory in Amsterdam and became a professional saxophonist when he founded the band SFeQ (San Francisco Earthquake). The band has won several jazz competitions (Middelsee Jazztreffen, Leverkusener Jazztage), released 7 albums, toured throughout Europe, and performed and taught in the United States for a period upon winning a scholarship from the Dutch Ministry of Culture. Parallel to that, he started his own record label, booking agency and publishing and consultancy bureau, called Dox, together with Peter Brandjes. His Dox experience ultimately led to his co-founding the ‘Artist’ educational program at the Albeda College in Rotterdam.
Dox has signed various young talented musicians through the years, including Royal Conservatoire alumnus Tim van Berkenstijn (Benny Sings), Benjamin Herman, New Cool Collective, Giovanca, and Wouter Hamel. Dox will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this fall.
New challenge
Suèr has already started at the Royal Conservatoire and is looking forward to an exciting future within the school. Bart: “The past few years I have focused on finding new talent and supporting them in developing themselves further. Combining artistry with pragmatism has proven to be quite effective. I think this is a good perspective to take with me in my new position. I have a lot of plans, but I also respect the rich heritage and experience of the department. I am looking forward to working with the students, faculty, other departments, and our many national and international partners.”
Principal Henk van der Meulen: “Bart Suèr is known to many in the jazz field and beyond. I am confident that he will not only be able to manage the Jazz Department; he will also guide it through further improvements leading to an ever more relevant program for our students. In order to do so, the teaching staff will work more closely together and more collaborations beyond the department itself and KC will be developed, too.”
Photo: Gemma van der Heyden (JazzNu)