GERBRAND VAN KOLCK

Boom Chicago has been a great experience for me as a musical director. The quick thinking made me a better live musician and composer. Michael Diederich was the first to introduce me to Boom, and together we’ve written Boom’s first original song “Gezelligheid” for their show. After that I’ve written many songs for Boom before they asked me to be a live musician for some shows. After a few years they asked be to be their full-time MD when they moved to the Leidseplein theatre. The show we created was “Live on the Leidseplein” and I introduced synthesizers, drumcomputers en samplers to the improv stage, which was unique especially with the integrated video-systems controlled by Jamie Wright. For every style of music a pre-programmed the right sounds. I am thankful for being able to work with the great improvisers and learning the skills from them. As an ‘Amsterdammer” in a solely US-cast it took some time to understand all the lingo, but it was worth every second of it. I will never forget the full-runs at the Edinburgh fringe festival, and the trip to HawaiiI, and especially the London Westend run in the Jermyn Street theatre. n the years after Boom my focus has been in Musical Theatre and have writting over 18 musicals, founded my own orchestra and am a full time composer/conductor for TV, Theatre and theme-parks. And yes, I know every song that has ever been written.

Years Active at Boom

1999-2003

Boom Chicago Show Credits

Everything’s Going to Be All Right—and Other Lies (1999)

Live at the Leidseplein: Your Privacy Is Our Business (2000)

Europe: We’ve Created a Monster (2001)

Nieuwjaarsconference (2001)

Rock Stars (2002)

Yankee Go Home: Americans and Why You Love to Hate Us (2002)

Boom Chicago Saves the World (Sorry about the Mess) (2003)

20th Anniversary Best of Boom (2013)