Very honest. We at NH did not immediately have Dirkjan Ranzijn in our sights, but the 57-year-old Alkmaarder has been working as an artist and show keyboardist for forty-three years. And now for the first time he has made it to a very illustrious list of names.
Dazzled by top ranking
“I don’t know what’s happening to me,” says a still dazed Dirkjan. “I received a call yesterday from Buma Stemra, congratulating them, because I am one of the top thirty artists who perform the most abroad. 62 times last year.”
Buma Stemra is the organization that ensures that artists and copywriters, among others, get paid for their work. “Apparently they also keep track of performances. I have even performed more often than André Rieu. I also play his music.”
Performance for students who sing along
The Alkmaarder performs with his keyboard. “I play absolutely everything. From classical to modern. For the elderly who like to hear Willeke Alberti, but also students hire me. They then shout along loudly with the Final Countdown or Bohemian Rhapsody. Great fun. But I can also be hired for family parties.”
Dirkjan is apparently also doing very well abroad. “That started years ago when I was hired by a keyboard manufacturer as a kind of billboard. They let me perform throughout Europe to promote their product. And that’s how the ball started rolling.”