Guido Dieteren
Founder and Leader of the orchestra, conductor, violin soloist and composer Guido Dieteren has already established an impressive career despite his young age.
Born in the province of Limburg, in the very south of Holland, Guido is the fourth generation of his family to conduct, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather and father, all of whom are Guido’s heroes and constant inspiration.
It didn’t take Guido long to build a solid reputation as a concertmaster and soloist with several orchestra’s. He progressed to tour Europe and North America as a conductor, violinist and soloist, but while sitting in the front row of other leaders’ orchestras Guido always dreamed of leading his own orchestra and touring the world playing his own music.
In 1998 Guido approached keyboard player and childhood friend Falco Borsboom to work together on a new orchestral project. It was from this collaboration that, 3 years later, Guido’s Orchestra was born. In 2001, Guido also decided to invite a beautiful young soprano to join his new orchestra and Wendy Kokkelkoren joined his new project as principal soloist.
In true musical romantic style, Guido and Wendy fell in love and 3 years later, Wendy actually proposed to Guido on stage in front of a live audience – she had just sung “One Hand, One Heart” from West Side Story and then to Guido’s astonishment, she produced a single red rose and asked him to marry her. Their wedding in the beautiful medieval church of St. Pancratius in their local town made front page news in their native Holland.
Guido’s Orchestra combines famous classical works with swinging pop songs and original compositions into a romantic and spectacular audience experience. His shows use the best of contemporary technology but at the heart of every show, and every recording is Guido’s passionate love of music – and his unique ability to engage an audience whether with a well-known piece or one of his newest compositions. He blends romantic strings with rock guitar sounds, engages in musical battles with percussion groups and then can draw the sweetest melody from the strings of his precious violin to bring tears to the eyes of everyone there.
In Holland, Guido’s Orchestra has become a superstar act and since 2005 Guido has acted as Musical Director, Conductor and Soloist at the largest musical event in Holland, the annual
Symphonica in Rosso concerts in Arnhem, performing at each of the events since 2005. Each year, the event invites a major star to perform and Guido has worked with Marco Borsato, Lionel Richie and this year will be performing with the wonderful Miss Diana Ross in October.
In June 2009 Guido led his Orchestra in the dramatic TV Special, ‘Live From The Heart of Europe’ recorded especially for PBS and international distribution. Guido created a huge stage on the top of the highest peak in Holland (Holland is low so it is not that high!) at the Drielandenpunt, (Three-Nations Point) where Holland, Belgium and Germany all meet. 6,500 people came to the mountain venue and rocked, sang and clapped until after midnight. It was an extraordinary night.
The last 5 months of 2009 promise to be very busy and very exciting for Guido. He is preparing for this years’ Symphonica in Rosso shows, putting the final touches to his TV special for PBS in the USA, preparing to travel the world promoting Live From The Heart of Europe and planning a tour of the US in 2010.Not bad for a boy from Limburg!
Born in the province of Limburg, in the very south of Holland, Guido is the fourth generation of his family to conduct, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather and father, all of whom are Guido’s heroes and constant inspiration.
It didn’t take Guido long to build a solid reputation as a concertmaster and soloist with several orchestra’s. He progressed to tour Europe and North America as a conductor, violinist and soloist, but while sitting in the front row of other leaders’ orchestras Guido always dreamed of leading his own orchestra and touring the world playing his own music.
In 1998 Guido approached keyboard player and childhood friend Falco Borsboom to work together on a new orchestral project. It was from this collaboration that, 3 years later, Guido’s Orchestra was born. In 2001, Guido also decided to invite a beautiful young soprano to join his new orchestra and Wendy Kokkelkoren joined his new project as principal soloist.
In true musical romantic style, Guido and Wendy fell in love and 3 years later, Wendy actually proposed to Guido on stage in front of a live audience – she had just sung “One Hand, One Heart” from West Side Story and then to Guido’s astonishment, she produced a single red rose and asked him to marry her. Their wedding in the beautiful medieval church of St. Pancratius in their local town made front page news in their native Holland.
Guido’s Orchestra combines famous classical works with swinging pop songs and original compositions into a romantic and spectacular audience experience. His shows use the best of contemporary technology but at the heart of every show, and every recording is Guido’s passionate love of music – and his unique ability to engage an audience whether with a well-known piece or one of his newest compositions. He blends romantic strings with rock guitar sounds, engages in musical battles with percussion groups and then can draw the sweetest melody from the strings of his precious violin to bring tears to the eyes of everyone there.
In Holland, Guido’s Orchestra has become a superstar act and since 2005 Guido has acted as Musical Director, Conductor and Soloist at the largest musical event in Holland, the annual
Symphonica in Rosso concerts in Arnhem, performing at each of the events since 2005. Each year, the event invites a major star to perform and Guido has worked with Marco Borsato, Lionel Richie and this year will be performing with the wonderful Miss Diana Ross in October.
In June 2009 Guido led his Orchestra in the dramatic TV Special, ‘Live From The Heart of Europe’ recorded especially for PBS and international distribution. Guido created a huge stage on the top of the highest peak in Holland (Holland is low so it is not that high!) at the Drielandenpunt, (Three-Nations Point) where Holland, Belgium and Germany all meet. 6,500 people came to the mountain venue and rocked, sang and clapped until after midnight. It was an extraordinary night.
The last 5 months of 2009 promise to be very busy and very exciting for Guido. He is preparing for this years’ Symphonica in Rosso shows, putting the final touches to his TV special for PBS in the USA, preparing to travel the world promoting Live From The Heart of Europe and planning a tour of the US in 2010.Not bad for a boy from Limburg!