Wellington-born cellist Boudewijn Keenan has recently completed his Bachelor of Music with first class honours at the University of Auckland studying under James Tennant. Prior to that he studied with Dr Heleen du Plessis for six years in Dunedin, which included completing his undergraduate music degree at the University of Otago. Boudewijn is excited to be in his first year at ANAM in 2025, studying with Howard Penny.
Over the course of his studies, Boudewijn has had a number of exciting opportunities, of which the highlight was performing Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with the combined Dunedin Youth and Symphony Orchestras. Further highlights include performing with Symphony at the music festival Electric Avenue in Christchurch this year, playing with the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra for four years including as principal cellist in 2020, and playing in a 13-concert quartet tour of the South Island of New Zealand in November 2022.
Boudewijn has played with a wide variety of ensembles over the last five years. Performing with the Auckland Philharmonia, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra have all fostered his love of orchestral playing. Chamber music has also had a large part to play in his musical development, and he has been lucky to collaborate with friends in groups of all sizes, from string octets to a piano quintet and several piano trios.
Boudewijn has participated in masterclasses with Johannes Moser, Andrew Joyce, Ashley Brown and Ian Greenberg among others, all of whom have had an impact on his playing today. Aside from music, Boudewijn loves the outdoors and distance running.
FROM: NZ / Aotearoa.
Photo by Pia Johnson