Violinist Ronald Hoogeveen has Died, Aged 74

Hoogeveen was a longtime concertmaster of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra

The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra has reported the death of its former concertmaster Ronald Hoogeveen, who performed for many years with the broadcasting ensemble.

Hoogeveen was born into a large working-class family. From a young age, he held a natural talent for music, an affinity that was discovered by his music teacher Oswald Kuhn, who decided to support his music education.

Soon described as a child prodigy, Hoogeveen made news headlines over 60 years ago when he was 12 years old and made his international concert debut with the Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Carl August Vogt. From then on, he appeared with many other European orchestras.

As concertmaster of the Radio Philharmonic, Hoogeveen was also an active chamber musician — he played in ROctet, a string octet comprising eminent Radio Philharmonic strong players.

He was a core member of the Raphael Quartet and played in the Traveling Music Society alongside his partner, violist Francien Schatborn, and his cellist brother.

“We will always remember you for your great spirit and inspirational musicianship!” write the ROctet on Facebook. “R.I.P. dearest friend Ronald Hoogeveen.”

Our condolences to Mr. Hoogeveen’s family, friends, and colleagues.