Albertus DeJong was born on May 15, 1985, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He was born into a family of musicians, and his parents were both professional classical musicians. His father was a cellist, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, DeJong was exposed to classical music and began playing the piano at the age of four. DeJong's parents recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. He began taking piano lessons with his mother and quickly showed a natural aptitude for the instrument. By the age of ten, he had already won several local piano competitions and was performing in public regularly. In 1997, DeJong was accepted into the prestigious Amsterdam Conservatory, where he studied under the renowned pianist and teacher, Jan Wijn. During his time at the conservatory, DeJong honed his skills and developed a deep understanding of classical music. He also began to perform in major concert halls throughout Europe, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2005, DeJong graduated from the Amsterdam Conservatory with honors and was awarded the prestigious Prix d'Excellence. This award is given to the top graduates of the conservatory and is a testament to DeJong's exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. After graduating, DeJong continued to perform in major concert halls throughout Europe and began to gain international recognition for his virtuosic playing and musicality. He also began to record his performances and released his first album, "DeJong Plays Chopin," in 2008. The album was a critical and commercial success and helped to establish DeJong as one of the leading pianists of his generation. In 2010, DeJong was invited to perform at the prestigious International Piano Festival in Moscow. His performance was hailed as a triumph, and he was awarded the festival's top prize. This was a major milestone in DeJong's career and helped to solidify his reputation as one of the world's greatest pianists. Over the years, DeJong has continued to perform in major concert halls and festivals around the world. He has collaborated with some of the world's leading orchestras and conductors, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. He has also recorded several critically acclaimed albums, including "DeJong Plays Beethoven" and "DeJong Plays Rachmaninoff." In addition to his performing career, DeJong is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. He has taught masterclasses at some of the world's leading music schools, including the Juilliard School in New York and the Royal Academy of Music in London. He is known for his patient and nurturing teaching style and has helped to inspire and guide countless young musicians. Throughout his career, DeJong has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to classical music. In 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize, which is given to outstanding classical musicians who have made significant contributions to the field. He was also awarded the Order of the Netherlands Lion, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a Dutch citizen. Today, DeJong continues to perform and teach, and his legacy as one of the greatest pianists of his generation is secure.

More....