Herman Krebbers

Dutch violinist and teacher Herman Krebbers was born in Hengelo on 18 June 1923. He studied with Oskar Back in Amsterdam. His Concertgebouw Orchestra career began in 1943, and he was later concertmaster from 1962 until 1980. He also had a career as a soloist and chamber musician, and gave his first solo concert in Ede in 1933.

He became known internationally for his masterclasses at the Amsterdam Muzieklyceum, where he taught for nearly fifty years and his students included Frank Peter Zimmermann, Peter Tanfield, Rudolf Koelman, Jeroen de Groot, Vera Beths, Liza Ferschtman, Emmy Verhey and André Rieu.

He adjudicated at many competitions, and established his own competition for amateur musicians.

A fall in 1979 nearly ended his career, but years of therapy eventually encouraged him to perform again, although he focussed mostly on teaching and adjudicating.

Herman Krebbers retired in 2009 at eighty-six, and he died on 2 May 2018, aged ninety-four.