Martin van Hees

Martin van Hees (MM'14) is a Dutch classical contemporary guitarist. He graduated cum laude for his Masters at The Royal Conservatory of The Hague with a distinction for his contribution to contemporary music. Martin takes actively part in several projects concerning contemporary music, chamber music and collaboration with dancers. He is part of the contemporary music group Kluster5, has a duo with violinist Floor LeCoultre and has recorded several albums.

“In the summer of 2014, I decided to go traveling for half a year with my girlfriend (Iro Christina Karampampa) to India and South-East Asia. We both had graduated that year and she organised a concert tour and masterclasses in India and Thailand for me, since she liked to organise such things.

It was such an amazing experience to perform classical guitar music in these countries. As a matter of fact, this adventure shaped the career path of both my girlfriend and for myself. Iro is a project manager, event producer and coördinator and I’m a performing and teaching artist/guitarist. This was how my solo career started.

My tour to India and South East Asia was for sure a pivotal moment. For me personally, this experience had developed me into a better musician with a wider musical vision. Working together with musicians from different backgrounds is great. In my career as a musician I’ve worked with a jazz crossover trio, singer songwriters, composers and of course with classically trained musicians. Learning from, playing and working with these people is so inspiring.

My appreciation for contemporary music started during my bachelor studies at the Royal Conservatoire. Already before going to the conservatoire, I felt sometimes bothered that I couldn’t ask my musical questions to the composers who lived centuries ago. Working with living composers is great since you can ask them everything. Working together with a ‘creator’ felt sometimes like creating myself.

At the same time we (the composer and the performer) continue the classical way of music making, where the composer composes their music and the musician performs their music. I came across some difficulties with the composers about what is physically possible on an instrument and especially on a guitar which is very delicate instrument. This teaches us as performers also how to approach classical music. At that time they must have had the same issues.

My friends from the Royal Conservatoire started an ensemble called Kluster5. And I was a part of it! This ensemble focuses on contemporary music and it is something that is close to the ensemble members’ hearts.

During that same time, a duo that I am part of with violinist Floor le Coultre started. And my teaching practice became all the more busy. Besides that I recorded four albums and one video serie with guitar arrangements since 2014. In 2018 we founded our Foundation, The Hague Guitar Society, with the idea of making a concert series and festival.”