25-year-old Bjorn Wilbers from Tilburg thought he had found his passion in musicals. From an early age he wanted nothing more than to be on stage. But once he succeeded, it turned out not to be for him. “It felt like I wasn’t using my brain to its full capacity.” Through the profession of sound engineer, Bjorn found another stage: in the radio studio. On Friday he starts as a DJ at Omroep Brabant.
Bjorn was born and raised in Milheeze. From an early age he wanted to be an actor in the theater. He succeeded: he played in musicals such as Soldaat van Oranje and The Sound of Music.
It was a child’s wish that came true, but it turned out not to be what he had expected. “I love being creative,” says Bjorn. “Making music, singing, acting, but also interviewing and presenting. But musical turned out not to be what I could do best.” As a result, it became increasingly difficult for Bjorn to give everything on stage. He ended up behind the scenes and became a sound engineer.
“It really was a eureka moment.”
When corona came, all his work fell away. “Through fellow audio engineers I had sometimes caught glimpses of the radio. A seed was planted there.” He started to delve more into the radio phenomenon and eventually followed a workshop at the NPO in 2022. “When I walked in there I was immediately sold. That day was intensely cool and really everything I wanted. It really was a eureka moment.”
Bjorn finally discovered where his passion really lies. He set himself a goal: within a year he wanted to get a program on a larger radio station. In early 2023, he sent an email to the radio team leader at Omroep Brabant and was invited for an interview.
That team leader, Maarten Kortlever, was enthusiastic about Bjorn. “He really has a feel for radio. Nice humor, nice use of sounds and he is incredibly creative.” A reason for Maarten to give Bjorn a program as part of a training program for radio talent.
“As if you join nice people on the terrace.”
From now on you will hear WieKent Bjorn?! on Omroep Brabant Radio. Bjorn is eager to get started. “It’s great to entertain people, I can give everything on the radio. I hope to create a kind of friend group feeling in my program. That you feel like you are joining a nice club of people on the terrace.”
There are even more changes on the radio during the weekend. Last Saturday Richard van den Beld made his last Platenbeld. From next Saturday you will hear De Tijdmachine between 14.00 and 18.00. John van Vroenhoven takes you back to the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Sundays also change: the sports program in the South Tribune is on summer break. In the coming weeks you will hear Stef Special with Stef van Duijnhoven during lunch between 12.00 and 14.00. You already hear that every week as Stef van de Administratie at Bel & Order on Friday afternoon.
Do you want to listen to the first broadcast of Bjorn, John or Stef? You can do this via omroepbrabant.nl/radio or via the known frequencies.