Diederik van der Laag (1991) is a composer of vocal music, as well as a singer and guitarist. Born and raised in Utrecht (NL), he grew up surrounded by his father’s records of Madonna and Paul Young, alongside his mother’s unwavering love for early Baroque.

Since the premiere of his first choral work in 2015, Miks Ma Ei Tapa Ennast, Diederik has established himself as a vocal composer with a mission: to innovate tonal choral music. In his search for music that touches both the mind and the heart, composing and improvising are equally relevant and effective for him:

“For me, music is at its most beautiful
when it leaves space—when it doesn’t
just showcase itself but also makes room
for what wants to emerge in the moment.
I am convinced this is possible with both
written and improvised music.
Nonetheless, exploring new forms that
combine these qualities is particularly
rewarding, especially in contemporary
choral music.”