Biography

Born on July 18th, 1981 in Arnhem, the Netherlands, Alex Poelman began playing the french horn at the age of eleven in the local Wind Band of Oosterbeek. After six years of high school, Alex moved to Enschede to study computer science at the University of Twente. During his time at university, Alex remained active in the Student Wind Orchestra Twente and the National Youth Wind Orchestra of the Netherlands as a horn player. Alex continued playing with the Wind Orchestra of Wilhelmina Glanerbrug, one of the best amateur orchestras in the Netherlands, until he stopped playing in orchestras two years ago.

While studying, Alex began composing music for small ensembles and arranging pieces for Wind Band. In 2001, he wrote his first composition for Wind Band, Volcano. Three years later, in 2004, he released his first symphony, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which quickly became a great success, performed all over the world and recorded by the KMKJWF (Military Band of the Netherlands), conducted by Norbert Nozy. The first three parts of the symphony were compulsory pieces at Dutch wind band contests for five years. Alex went on to compose D-Day, Jeanne d’Arc, Pinocchio and Theophoros, among others, which were commissioned by various orchestras and have been performed in Japan, the United States, Brazil, and throughout Europe.

In 2015, Alex premiered his second symphony, The Odyssey, a 45-minute composition for choir and wind band, with the National Opera and Concert Choir of the Netherlands and Wilhelmina Glanerbrug. The performance was successfully recorded on DVD. Alex's compositions are a testament to his talent and passion for music, and his work has left a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.

After focusing on raising his three children, Alex took a break from composing. However, he returned to the craft with a renewed energy and passion, creating two new pieces, 1944 and 1953, for the Dutch Military Band RFGGJ. These pieces showcase Alex's continued growth as a composer and have been well-received by both the band and audiences alike.