Dutch composer Coen Schenk (1981) started playing a musical instrument at an early age. After first completing an education in interior design, he turned to music, studying composition at Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and the Högskolan för Scen och Musik in Gothenburg, Sweden. Schenk participated in several international composition projects and master classes. As an improvisator and multi-instrumentalist he has been on stage in a number of productions by colleague-composers. Since 2011, he has worked freelance as a composer and arranger.

His interest is the construction of music: how to create, out of small musical elements, a large dramatic form that has substance, movement and touches. His approach towards this is intuitive, an interplay between physical action and inner reflection in a pursuit of composing music that excites and carries the listener along. Sources of inspiration are divers, from the models and conventions in Western music, to the architecture and folk tales of East-Asia.

Schenk’s output ranges from works for large orchestra and ensembles, to chamber and solo music. He collaborated with various groups and musicians including Modelo62, De Ereprijs, Ensemble för Ny Musik, conductors Bas Wiegers, Wim Boerman, Ezequiel Menalled and pianists Viktor Yuandong Mattsson and Eke Simons. He was selected to participate in the 250 Pieces for Beethoven project in Bonn, Germany. His piano piece Dankgesang was recorded in 2019 by Susanne Kessel and published by Musica Ferrum in London. New work for piano quartet was performed by musicians from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2021. Recently, Sonata was given its world premiere by pianist Tobias Borsboom, broadcast on Dutch national radio.

Coen Schenk is also active as a concert producer and music publisher. As an arranger, he has worked on music by Wagner and Moussorgsky, among others.