Jacob ter Veldhuis has become one of the most successful composers in the Netherlands today, with a wide-ranging body of works that attract much attention, discussion, and debate.

Ter Veldhuis (b. 1951) started his musical career in the sixties as a rock musician and studied at the Groningen Conservatory where he was awarded the Dutch Composition Prize in 1980. He regards himself as a late developer. Breaking through in the mid-eighties with harmonious compositions straight from the heart and averse to intellectual concepts or complex techniques of a worn-out avant-garde, he writes effective music which pleases the ear without ever becoming too sweet or indolent. From his past as a rock musician he kept his interest in sound and a lively stage presentation as means of expression. He is a virtuoso in using electronics and involves items like the Gulf War, Chet Baker or the Jerry Springer Show through sampling techniques.

Ter Veldhuis has written orchestral music, chamber music and electronic music. He also writes for film and theatre and ballet. His music is performed worldwide and recorded on many CD labels, including Emergo Classics, Chandos, BVHaast, Globe, and Ottavo a.o. Recently he received nominations from the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers, the Ars Electronica Linz and Bourges Electronic Festival.

“Highly expressive and emotional, almost anti-intellectual music, clear of texture and architectural in form, highly organized and basically tonal, though betraying no inclination towards any neoclassical procedures. A kind of non-repetitive minimalism, brooding and powerful.”
—Records International

Upcoming special events featuring the composer include a Ter Veldhuis Festival, a large four day festival in Rotterdam, March 1-4, 2001; and Paradiso, a virtual oratorio for multimedia, soloists and orchestra, with videos by Jaap Drupsteen, to be premiered in June 2001.

Ter Veldhuis's music has been performed by: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gelders Orkest, Hong-Kong Philharmonic, Nederlands Ballet Orkest, National Orchestra of Malaysia, Ulster Orchestra, Penederecki Quartet, Netherlands Quartet, Utrechts String Quartet, the percussion group The Hague, Aurelia Quartet, James Galway, Eleonore Pameijer, Duo Berman-Wieringa, Safri Duo, Groningen Guitar Duo, Storioni Trio, The Houdini’s, Romain Bisschoff, Marjanne Kweksilber, Stanley Hoogland, Classical Accordion Duo, Basho Ensemble, Combustion Chamber, Annelie de Man and many others.