KOEN SCHOOTS
EN/DE

Conducting

So far…

Koen started his career in musical theater, covering opera, operetta, vocal works and musicals. He has a passion for Italian opera (especially Verdi and Puccini) as well as Richard Strauss. He also loves to conduct contemporary musicals. In the symphonic world he has conducted works from Bach to Bernstein and Symphonic Death Metal.

“There is no ‘serious’ music or ‘unserious’ music, just good music and bad music.”
— Leonard Bernstein

Timeline

  • 1984–1989Stadttheater Klagenfurt: répétiteur and conductor
  • 1989–2001Musiktheater im Revier Gelsenkirchen: conductor / guest conductor
  • 1992–1994Operettenhaus Hamburg: musical director for Cats
  • 1994–2001Neue Metropol Hamburg: artistic director for The Buddy Holly Story / freelance conductor
  • 1999–2001Neue Metropol Bremen: artistic and musical director for Jekyll & Hyde / freelance conductor
  • 2001–2003Friedrichstadtpalast Berlin: conductor
  • 2003–2005Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf/Duisburg: conductor
  • since 2004Guest conductor Komische Oper Berlin
  • since 2005Guest conductor Konzert und Theater St. Gallen
  • 2005–2010Freelance conductor and arranger
  • 2010–2018Vereinigte Bühnen Wien: music director
  • since 2018Freelance conductor and arranger

Other noteworthy events

  • 2006Operett Szinház Budapest – Rudolf (World Premiere – Wildhorn)
  • 2010Raimund Theater Vienna – Frank Wildhorn and Friends with the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien orchestra and guest stars Linda Eder, Pia Douwes and Thomas Borchert
  • 2012Umeda Arts Center, Osaka and Theater Orb, Tokyo – Elisabeth in Concert (Levay)
  • 2012–2021EMK Productions Seoul – Rudolf, The Count of Monte Cristo, Xcalibur (Wildhorn), Elisabeth, Mozart! (Levay)
  • 2017Musical Comedy St. Petersburg – Wildhorn & Friends in Concert
  • 2017De Doelen Rotterdam – Musical Meets Opera – Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 2019–2020Opéra National du Rhin Strasbourg – Fiddler on the Roof (Bock)
  • 2022Musikverein Vienna – Wiener Symphoniker – Donau Symphonie (World Premiere – Wildhorn)
  • 2024Münsterplatz Ulm – Wiener Symphoniker Open Air concert – Donau Symphonie (Wildhorn)
  • 2024 and 2025Odeon of Herodes Atticus Athens – Septicflesh live in Concert with the Athens State Orchestra
  • 2025Münsterplatz Ulm – Wiener Symphoniker – Odessa Symphonie (World Premiere – Wildhorn)
  • 2026Festspielhaus Neuschwanstein – Rudolf (German Premiere – Wildhorn)
  • 2026Ancient Theatre Plovdiv – Septicflesh live in Concert with the Orchestra and Choir of the State Opera Plovdiv

Prizes and awards

  • 2009Berlin Audience Award – Best Musical Theater Production of the Season: Kiss Me, Kate
  • 2011Gold and Platinum DVD – Die Zauberflöte Opernfestpiele St. Margarethen
  • 2012Golden CD – Elisabeth – 20-year Anniversary Production Vienna
  • 2018Berlin Audience Award – Best Musical Theater Production of the Season: Fiddler on the Roof
  • 2021German Musical Academy – Best Arrangements for a new Show: Wüstenblume (Desert Flower)
  • 2025German Musical Academy – Nomination – Best Arrangements and Orchestrations: Einstein, A Matter of Time