Gerben Grooten

Gerben is a passionate 24/7 musician, conductor, social entrepreneur and educator.

He plays timpani and percussion in the Johannesburg Philharmonic. He also became a frequent guest player with many other orchestras and ensembles.

Gerben was born in the Netherlands and received his degrees in percussion and conducting from the Rotterdam Conservatory where he studied with distinguished performers like Robert van Sice, Randy Max and Willem Heesen. After many years of performing, conducting and lecturing on four continents, he and his wife moved permanently to South Africa in 2005.

He serves as percussion/drums and conducting lecturer at the University of Pretoria and is principal conductor of the orchestras. Gerben is very passionate about redeeming the arts in the nation to bring about social change and started the first Arts Centre in South Africa of its kind in 2008 to contribute to that vision.

OrchestraJohannesburg PhilharmonicTitleTimpani, Percussion