Marij van Gorkom - bass clarinet, clarinet and e-flat clarinet

Marij van Gorkom studied music and chemistry, first at Indiana University, where she studied clarinet with Eli Eban. After obtaining the BS degree in chemistry, she moved to Leiden University to follow the MSc program in biophysical chemistry. In 2007 she obtained her BM degree in both bass clarinet and (e-flat) clarinet at Codarts, University of Professional Arts Education, in Rotterdam. She studied bass clarinet with Henri Bok and (e-flat) clarinet with Jan Jansen and José Luis Estellés. From 2007 to 2009 she studied 'clarinet baix' with Harry Sparnaay at the ESMUC in Barcelona. In 2010 she graduated cum laude in chemistry at Leiden University.

In the past Marij performed with the C64 Orchestra, recorded with the Jazzinvaders, and toured with the Ricciotti Ensemble. As a soloist, she recently gave several performances of New York Counterpoint by Steve Reich, and amongst others Ecoute, écoute! by Roderik de Man. In 2009 she presented a solo bass clarinet program in the ‘ISO festival’ at the Manoel Theater in Malta, and in 2011 a live electronics concert at the MUMUTH in Graz with IEM. With the improvising ensemble Free Impulse she was involved in combining contemporary jazz, world music, classical music and free improvisation on stage. With Pentatiek reed quintet she brings music into a more intimate and classical setting, playing repertoire from as early as the renaissance to as late as the current century. Her newest ensemble trio-to-go is dedicated to contemporary music in collaboration with composers.

Feeling that professional practice and teaching belong together, Marij is an active educator. She has done extensive chemistry tutoring and taught as an assistant instructor at Indiana University and Leiden University. She performed in the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Children Shows of 2005 and made several children’s tours as a member of the Ricciotti Ensemble. She taught bass clarinet at ’t Kielzog in Hoogezand and is teaching privately in Den Haag. In 2009-2010 she played in a children’s production based on ‘Tsar Saltan’ in collaboration with Club Ghazal.