Laurens van Rooyen

Menthol, a musical composed in 2016, was commissioned by the Twente region. Van Rooyen wrote the piece together with composer Paul Maaswinkel. Menthol tells the story of the pioneer Joseph Sylvester, the first black man in Hengelo, who sold toothpaste in the 1920s and married a local girl.

Since the turn of the century Van Rooyen gives frequently piano recitals in the castles and coach houses along the river Vecht. He also performs for special occasions as anniversaries and jubilees. In 2004 he was commissioned a composition for the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the Cathedral of Utrecht. He also toured the theaters with De Verdwenen Minnares (The Lost Mistress), 2005, a musical ode to romance. Together with Geert Huinink he composed the Dance Opera Orfeo. This premiered at the opening of the Amsterdam Dance Event in 2005. Van Rooyen is the author of two books. In 2015 his most recent: Beethoven was ook een zzp'er (Beethoven was a freelancer, too).

In 1983 Van Rooyen was awarded the Golden Harp by Buma Culture Foundation. In 2014, Laurens van Rooyen received a royal decoration: Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

In 1978 Van Rooyen toured the Netherlands and Belgium, with musicians like guitarist Jan Akkerman. Together with Louis van Dijk, Tonny Eyk, Pim Jacobs, Pieter van Vollenhoven and Daniel Wayenberg he established in 1988 a companionship by the name of de Gevleugelde Vrienden(Winged Friends. 'Vleugel' meaning Wing as well as Grand Piano). They gave more than forty-five concerts throughout the Netherlands.

In 1976 he released his first solo album: Kaleidoskoop. Ever since he continues to publish records with various record companies. At the end of the seventies he composed the score for Jos Stelling's Rembrandt fecit 1669, followed by Een vrouw als Eva (A Woman Like Eve), 1979, Lieve jongens (Dear Boys), 1980 and Een vlucht Regenwulpen (A Flight of Rainbirds), 1981. In the nineties he was also involved in the production of several Dutch films.

Laurens Johannes van Rooyen was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, as the oldest son of a grocer. After grammar school he studied at the Utrecht Conservatory of Music, where he met with Herman van Veen. With him he founded in 1966 the Harlekijn Muziektheater. They wrote songs and performed together.

Laurens van Rooyen (Utrecht, 27 March 1935) is a Dutch pianist and composer. He is known for his cooperation in the theater with Herman van Veen. He composed many pieces for the piano and wrote the score for several Dutch films. He wrote two books on his experiences as a musician.