Rob van de Laar

The Dutch horn player Rob van de Laar (born 1987), began learning the horn at the Fontys Conservatorium in Tilburg. He subsequently studied with Herman Jeurissen at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2009. Rob then continued his studies with Wolfgang Vladar at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.

Rob was a member of the Hague Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008 until 2013, when he was appointed Principal Horn of Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2016, he become Principal Horn of the Mozarteumorchester, Salzburg. As a guest principal, he has worked with many leading orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Seoul Philharmonic, KBS Symphony Orchestra Seoul and Brussels Philharmonic, under esteemed conductors such as Bernhard Haitink, Mariss Jansons and Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

As soloist, Rob has appeared with the Brabants Orkest, the South Netherlands Philharmonic, Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra, the Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau, Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands and the Orchestra of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, playing concertos by Joseph Haydn, W.A. Mozart and Richard Strauss.

Rob has a great passion for chamber music and has played at many national and international festivals, including the Orlando Festival, Grachtenfestival Amsterdam and the Tblisi International Wind Festival. He has appeared with various ensembles such as Camerata Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Netherlands Winds Ensemble. In January 2017, Rob received the Nederlandse Muziekprijs (Dutch Music Award), which is the highest accolade that can be awarded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) to a musician working in the field of classical music. The prize is awarded upon recommendation by the Advisory Committee Dutch Music Award, which is hosted by the Performing Arts Fund. Rob has received financial support for his musical education from the Prince Bernhard Cultuurfonds and the Stichting Eigen Muziekinstrument