Stadsorgelconcert in de Grote of St. Bavokerk

Stef Tuinstra studied organ, piano, harpsichord, and trombone at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master’s degree in organ, a diploma in church music and choral conducting, and the Prix d'Excellence for organ. In 1986, he was awarded at the International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges. 

From 1974 to 1992, he was the organist of the Jacobus Church in Zeerijp and from 1992 to 2023 part-time at the Nieuwe Kerk in Groningen. He is also part-time organist at the Martinikerk in Groningen. He works at the Northern Netherlands Organ Academy (NNOA). Stef Tuinstra is known as an inventive improviser. His organ CDs and YouTube recordings are considered groundbreaking, of high artistic level, and permanently relevant. Two productions received a shared Edison Award. A CD album (label Document) featuring the complete organ works of Georg Böhm was internationally recognized as a new interpretative standard for Baroque North German organ literature and received a 10 in 'Luister'. 

As a certified organ building advisor, Stef Tuinstra closely collaborates with various Protestant churches and foundations in the Netherlands and with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. So far, he has completed over 160 projects, including a significant portion of the Groningen organ collection that is recognized as a unique organ landscape of top level. He is also the author of several (international) publications about organ building and playing, including one on Bach's Passacaglia (click here for more information).

From May to October, concerts are held on Tuesday evenings and also on Thursday afternoons in July and August in the Great or St. Bavo Church by renowned organists from home and abroad.