Gerbrich Meijer
Born in Winsum, The Netherlands, Gerbrich Meijer (b. 1997) has quickly established herself as an extraordinary clarinetist. Currently pursuing her Soloist Class degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, she recently completed her Master's degree at the prestigious Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles, studying under the renowned Professor Yehuda Gilad. Her musical journey began at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree with the highest distinction under the mentorship of John Kruse.
In 2024, Gerbrich reached a new milestone as a finalist for the Dutch Classical Talent Award, where she captivated audiences across the Netherlands with her One Woman Show, ultimately winning the audience prize. Her debut album for the AVRO TROS has recently been released and can be found at the website. Her accolades also include the 'Special Prize' at the 2022 Carl Nielsen International Competition and a nomination for the Grachtenfestival Award in the same year. Her summers at the prestigious Music Academy of the West in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were transformative, as she developed many of her creative ideas and won the London Symphony Orchestra Keston Max Fellowship here.
Gerbrich is a regular (principal) guest player and has performed with The Royal Concertgebouw, Rotterdam Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Symphony, Finnish Radio, Helsinki Philharmonic, Copenhagen Philharmonic, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Residentie Orkest, The National Repertory Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, and Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. She has also been featured at international chamber music festivals curated by Janine Jansen, Liza Ferschtman, and Emmy Verhey. At just 15 years old, she made her debut at the Concertgebouw, followed by a concert tour in Taiwan, performances for the Dutch embassy in Switzerland, and a solo recital at the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam.
In 2017, Gerbrich was appointed Principal Clarinet of the European Union Youth Orchestra, a role that allowed her to tour across Europe and perform in iconic venues such as the Concertgebouw, Royal Albert Hall, and Konzerthaus Berlin. She received the Lionel Bryer Memorial Fund Award from the EUYO for: 'exceptional musicianship and community building' in 2019. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has collaborated with various orchestras and has been invited as a guest artist at festivals such as Oremandsgaard Kammermusikfest, Equinox Festival and Chamber Music Festival Utrecht.
Gerbrich is also passionate about music education. She has experience as a teaching assistant at the Colburn Music Academy and was actively involved in the Jumpstart community outreach program in Los Angeles, while attending Colburn. Her belief in the power of music education to unify society is deeply rooted, thanks to the early influence of her teachers Ivar Römer and Yfynke Hoogeveen. Gerbrich is dedicated to teaching students of all ages and skill levels.
In addition to her performing career, Gerbrich is a columnist for De Klarinet, the national magazine for clarinet players in the Netherlands.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Gerbrich co-founded the Cottage Ensemble, a Dutch chamber music group dedicated to bridging the gap between musicians and their communities. The ensemble embodies her vision of a world where musicians are entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for everyone to experience and connect with music.
A highlight in the 2025 season will be her solo debut with the National Radio Orchestra of the Netherlands at Tivoli Vredenburg and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
Gerbrich’s work is generously supported by SEM, the Stringendo Foundation, the Augustinus Foundation, the Becket Foundation, and she is a recipient of the 'De Zilverenvork' and 'Talent Award' from the Prins Bernhard Culture Foundation.