The 28-year-old English conductor Benjamin Goodson is the new chief conductor of the Groot Omroepkoor. He will lead the choir beginning Sept. 1, 2020, and will be associated with the choir for a minimum of three years.

Benjamin Goodson made a very successful debut with the Groot Omroepkoor in early July 2018 when he prepared the choir for Mozart's Requiem in the Concertgebouw. After his return for Frederick Delius' opera A village Romeo and Juliet at the NTR Saturday Matinee in December 2018, many members of the choir sounded the desire for Benjamin to become their new principal conductor.

Roland Kieft, general manager of the Broadcast Music Foundation:

"I am extremely pleased with the arrival of Benjamin Goodson. With him, the Groot Omroepkoor has secured one of today's most talented choral conductors. Benjamin Goodson combines a mature outlook on his role as chief conductor with an open eye to new generations of listeners, media users and concertgoers. His interest in new music and new collaborations also contributed to his appointment."

Benjamin Goodson:

"I am very pleased with my appointment as principal conductor with the Great Broadcasting Choir. From our first project together, I felt a genuine connection with this amazing ensemble, a jewel in the European classical landscape. For me, the choir is defined by the intensity of its sound - by its humanity. I look forward to working together to discover new repertoire and explore new ways to connect with our audiences."

About Benjamin Goodson

Born in Hertfordshire, UK, Benjamin Goodson studied music at Hertford College, Oxford, where he received the university's highest award. He studied conducting with Sir Colin Davis, Paul Spicer, Peter Stark and Ulrich Windfuhr. Three years after graduation, Goodson was appointed artistic director of Somerville College, becoming Oxford University's youngest artistic director.

Benjamin Goodson is chief conductor of Bath Camerata and permanent choral conductor at the Dorset Opera Festival. From 2015 to 2018, Goodson was choral director and assistant conductor with the Rundfunkchor Berlin, where he supported former chief conductor of the Groot Omroepkoor Gijs Leenaars.

With the NDR Chor Hamburg, the MDR Chor Leipzig and the choir of the London Symphony Orchestra, among others, Goodson studied choral works for Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker, Christian Thielemann, Ivan Fischer, Vladimir Jurowski and others.

He recently conducted Feldman's Rothko Chapel at Musikfest Berlin with Tabea Zimmermann and the Rundfunkchor Berlin.

Goodson is involved in a variety of initiatives to explore new formats for choral concerts. He has performed Bach's Matthew Passion with Tom Guthrie, acted as co-conductor in Rundfunkchor Berlin's acclaimed Human Requiem and assisted in the development of Robert Wilson's groundbreaking staging of Bach's motets.

Benjamin Goodson will spend approximately 12 weeks a year with the Grand Omroepkoor. He will work alongside first guest conductor Peter Dijkstra and regular guest conductor Michael Gläser.

Klaas Stok will end his work as choirmaster of the Groot Omroepkoor at the end of the 2019-2020 season, also because of his chief conductorship with the NDR Chor Hamburg and the many guest conductorships abroad. He will nevertheless return regularly as a guest with the Groot Omroepkoor.