Jan Pieter Koch (1957) studied musicology at the University of Utrecht and classical guitar at the Conservatory in the same town. Later studied composition with the Dutch composer Daan Manneke. After his studies he started working as composer in the theatre. He wrote scores for all kinds of pieces, such as Lorca's Yerma and Büchner's Danton. For the city of Utrecht he wrote two operas based on the famous Dutch epic poems Awater and Het Uur U by Martinus Nijhof. In 1997 he started working as musical advisor for the Dutch Ballet Orchestra, wich accompanies the National Ballet in Amsterdam and the NDT (the Dutch Dance company) in The Hague. He advised choreographers such as Hans van Manen, Toer van Schayk, Juanjo Arques, Ted Brandsen and Krzysztof Pastor. He advised the latter in compiling the music for his ballet about the life of Kurt Weill and many other choreographies. At the NDT he advised the young choreographer Alexander Ekman for his ballets Cacti and Maybe Two.
Working for the Ballet Orchestra, he was artistically involved in all kinds of educational projects for children in collaboration with the Het Concertgebouw of Amsterdam. He also was involved in a few cross-over projects to bring new audiences to the Het Concertgebouw.
Jan Pieter Koch is now a freelance advisor and composer in Amsterdam and teaches Musical Theatre in Arnhem at the High School of Arts.
Photo: artist's archive
