Jeroen Leentjens
Composer
About
Jeroen Leentjens (Maastricht, 2003) is a young composer from the Netherlands, currently living and working in Amsterdam. Since 2023, he is pursuing his Bachelor of Composition at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where he follows lessons with Willem Jeths and Meriç Artaç.
Already from an early age Jeroen was interested in music. He started playing the saxophone when he was seven years old and at the age of thirteen he began composing music. At first this was mostly electronic music, but later, at the age of sixteen, he became interested in writing instrumental music as well.
Jeroen is a versatile composer, writing music in many different genres, ranging from ensemble and orchestral works, to techno and soundscapes. His works are often inspired by the past and (inter)cultural connections, with influences from folk, popular, and electronic music. The fusion of these diverse elements results in a recognisable, exciting, and energetic style, as seen in his composition Radimlja”(2025), based on historic Bosnian grave markings.
In 2025 he won the first prize and the award in the Calefax Composers Contest/Alba Rosa Viëtor Composition Competition with his work Radimlja for reed quintet. He also won the first prize in category 2at the Princess Christina Composition Concours with his work Scream of Liberty in 2022. His music has been played at Gaudeamus Festival (Changing Shapes, 2023), Opera Forward Festival (By the Light of the Moon, 2025) and Unheard Music Festival (Scream of Liberty, 2023). In March of 2026 his new work for symphony orchestra, Nigredo will be premiered by the Conservatory of Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra at TivoliVredenburg and the Muziekgebouw.
Concerts
On the 27th of March 2026 “Nigredo” will be premiered by the symphony orchestra of the Conservatory of Amsterdam, conducted by César Ramos.
TivoliVredenburg (main hall), 12:30 – Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tickets/information via: https://www.tivolivredenburg.nl/agenda/51507084/lunchconcert-klassiek-27-03-2026
On the 29th of March 2026 “Nigredo” will be premiered by the symphony orchestra of the Conservatory of Amsterdam, conducted by César Ramos.
Muziekgebouw (main hall), 14:15 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tickets/information via: https://www.muziekgebouw.nl/en/agenda/awakening-qv1j
On the 27th of May 2026 “Níng Shì”, a new work for recorder and electronics will be premiered/performed by Cherilynne Wang.
Torpedo Theater | De Mus, 20:00 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Tickets and more information will follow soon.
On the 4th of September 2026 a new work for symphony orchestra, and “Nigredo” (reduced instrumentation) will be premiered/performed by the North Netherlands Orchestra.
De Oosterpoort (small hall), 20:15 – Groningen, The Netherlands.
Tickets and information will follow soon.
Jeroen Leentjens won the first prize and public prize of the Alba Rosa Viëtor/Calefax Composers Competition with his work “Radimlja”, performed by the Dianto Reed Quintet at Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam.
more information: https://newmusicnow.nl/verken/article/jeroen-leentjens-winnaar-alba-rosa-vietor-calefax-composers-competition
On the 16th of March “By the Light of the Moon”, a piece for soprano and chamber orchestra was performed at the NedPho Koepel. The concert also included an arrangement for the same instrumentation of “So We’ll Go No More a Roving” by Maude Valérie White, also made by Jeroen Leentjens.
Sophia Hunt (soprano), Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
more information: https://orkest.nl/en/concerten/321-the-song-project-eng/
On the 15th of March “By the Light of the Moon”, a piece for soprano and chamber orchestra was performed at the Dutch National Opera as part of the Opera Forward Festival 2025. The concert also included an arrangement for the same instrumentation of “So We’ll Go No More a Roving” by Maude Valérie White, also made by Jeroen Leentjens.
Sophia Hunt (soprano), Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
On the 9th of March “By the Light of the Moon”, a piece for soprano and chamber orchestra was premiered at Theater Meervaart. The concert also included an arrangement for the same instrumentation of “So We’ll Go No More a Roving” by Maude Valérie White, also made by Jeroen Leentjens.
Sophia Hunt (soprano), Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
On the 10th of September “Changing Shapes”, a piece for bassoon and baritone saxophone was premiered by Duo Dulfer & Witteveen at TivoliVredenburg (Hertz) as part of Gaudeamus Festival 2023.
more information: https://gaudeamus.nl/en/events/gaudeamus-festival-2023-sunday/duo-dulfer-witteveen/
On the 12th of September “The Scream of Liberty”, a piece for string quartet was performed by the Matangi Quartet at Korzo as part of the Unheard Music Festival 2023.
listen to “The Scream of Liberty”: https://youtu.be/Nf1ko5Hy7DQ
Jeroen Leentjens won the first prize in category two of the Prinses Christina Composition Concours with his work “The Scream of Liberty”, performed by the Matangi Quartet at Podium Azijnfabriek, ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
listen to “The Scream of Liberty”: https://youtu.be/Nf1ko5Hy7DQ
Selected Compositions
By the Light of the Moon (2025) | Piece for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra
Based on the poem So, we’ll go no more a roving by Lord Byron (1788-1824), and inspired by Maude Valerie White’s (1855-1937) piece with the same title, this work pictures the emotional aftermath of an ended relationship. Although the original piece and poem are more about the end of youthful optimism and aging, this reimagination takes a far darker turn. Performed by Sophia Hunt (soprano) and the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.
Nightfall/Reminiscence (2021/2022) | Two pieces for Piano and Tenor Saxophone
“Nightfall” and “Reminiscence” are two pieces for piano and tenor saxophone of which high-quality recordings are available now on all streaming services.
Gallery
Contact
© Jeroen F.H. Leentjens, 2026. All rights reserved.