Gerben Gritter (*1979) studied organ with Jacques van Oortmerssen at the prestigious Conservatorium van Amsterdam. In addition, he studied Church Music and Music Theory at the same institution, as well as Musicology at Utrecht University. Gritter’s musicological studies, completed cum laude in 2007, consisted of research in the field of organology, and included an apprenticeship with several Dutch organ builders. Gerben Gritter made his concert debut at the age of 15 on the large Van Oeckelen organ (1861) in St. Clemens’s church in the city of Steenwijk, and has since played many concerts at home and abroad. He was a prize winner at the international organ competitions in Alkmaar (2003), Amsterdam (2005) and Herford, Germany (2006). At an early age, Gerben Gritter came into contact with the work of the famous organ builder Christian Müller (1690-1763), and Müller’s instruments have come to play a prominent part in his life. At the age of 14, he became organist of the Reformed Church in Westerbork (Müller organ, 1726), and he has been assistant organist of the Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam since 2000 (Müller organ, 1734). In addition, he performed his Master’s exam on the world-famous Müller organ from 1738 in the church of St. Bavo, Haarlem. Gerben Gritter is presently researching for a PhD about the life and work of the organ builder Christian Müller.
