Manuel Visser is a Dutch-born conductor and viola-player who grew up in a musical family with a flutist as father and harpist as mother.
In his early youth Manuel started playing the piano and violin for several years and later switched to the viola. He studied with Michael Gieler at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and later with Jürgen Kussmaul, who became eventually the biggest influence on his viola-playing.

 

After his time in Amsterdam he continued to study with contemporary music specialist Garth Knox in Paris and after that with Peter Langgartner at the 'Universität Mozarteum' in Salzburg. As a viola-player Manuel Visser was prizewinner at several competitions like 'the International Competition for Young Violists' in Slovenia and enjoys an international career as chamber musician in many 'historical informed performance' and 'contemporary music' groups.

 

Some years after his viola-studies, Manuel developed an increasing interest in orchestral conducting and studied for this with Lucas Vis and Ed Spanjaard at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. He was active participant in masterclasses by Jorma Panula, Charles Olivieri-Munroe, Achim Holub and Toby Purser with orchestras like the Philharmonie Südwestfalen, the Kammerphilharmonie Graz and the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.  

 

In the past years Manuel worked as assistent-conductor with the Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg.

He regularly conducts projects with members of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra combined with the most promising young musicians of the Netherlands and is artistic leader and conductor of the Utrecht Chamber Orchestra.

For more information: www.utrechtskamerorkest.com