Organ improvisations and choral singing by André Knevel & Pieter Heykoop.
André Knevel was born in Bussum, the Netherlands. Already at a very young age he felt attracted to the organ. When he was 8 years old he received his first organ and piano lessons. His teachers included Dr. J.A.M.van Stokkum, Rutger van Mazijk and Willem Hendrik Zwart. André Knevel gave his first official organ concert when he was 19 years old. A short time later he was appointed organist in the Reformed Congregation in Hilversum. By invitation he played various French organs, including in the Cathedral St. Eustache, Cathedral Sacre-Coeur and the Cathedral in Sens.
In 1975 André Knevel emigrated to Canada, where he has his home in St.Catharines, Ontario. There he is associated with several Christian schools as a music teacher. He is also a local church organist. André Knevel continued his organ studies with Dr. John Tuttle, organ teacher at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. He trained André for organ diploma B.
Pieter Heykoop was born in Dordrecht on October 11, 1960.
At a young age, his musical aptitude and interest in the organ became apparent. At the age of 6 he received his first organ lessons from Bart van den Berg. He then studied with Cor Visser, the then organist of the Grote Kerk in Dordrecht. His teachers also included Jan Bonefaas, organist of the Grote Kerk in Gorinchem, and the internationally renowned organist Ben van Oosten.
At the age of 15, he was appointed permanent organist of one of the Reformed Churches in his hometown. Since 1986, Pieter Heykoop has been organist of the Reformed Congregation in his hometown of Yerseke, where he plays the 3-manual Van den Heuvel/Boogaard organ.
Pieter Heykoop is a much sought-after organist for singing and organ evenings at home and abroad.
He has played numerous imposing organs in France, England, Germany, Luxembourg, Scotland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Canada, U.S.A., Israel and South Africa, among others.
The year 2025 marks his 50th anniversary as an organist.
