Coen Vermeeren

Coen Vermeeren (Breda, The Netherlands, 4 November 1962) is a Dutch composer, scientist and philosopher. He sang as a boy-alto in the Sacrament Choir in Breda under conductor Walther Cantrijn. There he became familiar with choir music from the Renaissance until the 20th century.

He obtained his degree as an engineer at the Tech University of Delft, where he eventually taught Air- and Space tech. Music, however, remained his most important passion. Between 1989 and 2001, he was the (co-)conductor of the Chorals of the 'Grote Kerk' church in Breda, The Netherlands, a boys choir that had its origins in the Sacrament Choir. In 1995 he began the ensemble called "i buoni antichi" and is known for Bach cantatas in the Saint Anthony church of Breda.

At the age of 26, Vermeeren spontaneously started with writing music. As an autodidact, he composes intuitively. In classes he received from [a=Daan Manneke], composer and professor at the Amsterdam Conservatory, he later on focused more on composition techniques and instrumentation.

Manneke confirmed his personal way of writing and encouraged him to find inspiration for his music in other art forms and philosophy. Many of Vermeeren's works are written for choir, mostly inspired by Gregorian, Renaissance polyphony and so-called 'neo-spiritual music' from composers like Arvo Pärt.