Bylsma, Anner

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Bylsma, Anner

Bylsma, Anner, Dutch cellist; b. The Hague, Feb. 17, 1934. He studied cello with Carel Boomkamp at the Royal Cons, of Music in The Hague, receiving the Prix d’excellence in 1957; subsequently won the Pablo Casals Competition in Mexico City (1959). After serving as principal cellist of Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw Orch. (1962–68), he devoted himself to an international career as a soloist and recitalist. He taught at his alma mater and at Amsterdam’s Sweelinck Cons., and was the Erasmus Scholar at Harvard Univ. in 1982. His repertoire is comprehensive, ranging from the Baroque and early Classical periods (utilizing original instruments) to contemporary scores.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire