Board

Eveline Nikkels was born in 1944 and studied musicology and philosophy at Utrecht University. She obtained her PhD in 1984 on a subject of her own: the influence of Nietzsche's philosophy on Gustav Mahler's music. After this, she became a much sought-after speaker at conferences at home and abroad. She has written many books focusing on the Fin de Siècle with Gustav Mahler in the lead role. In her spare time, Eveline Nikkels leads tours to the most important music festivals in Europe. Together with Matthijs Boumans, she edited Briefwechsel Alma Mahler - Allert de Lange Verlag (The Hague, 2020).

In his first thirty years of life, Floris got to know - among other musical styles - the classical repertoire, but Gustav Mahler was not among them. Until Mahler came to him unexpectedly with 'the ninth' and never let go. Since then, he has studied Mahler's music, texts and life. Floris grew up in Amersfoort and now lives, with his wife, in the country of Groningen for decades. From there, he visits concerts in Dutch and European cities. His career has included healthcare, management positions, entrepreneurship, mediation and law. He brings the knowledge and experience he gained in this way to his position as director of our foundation.

Studied Dutch language and literature at Leiden University. He works as a publisher and media consultant. He is also writing a biography on the forgotten baritone and radio pioneer Cornelis Bronsgeest (1878-1957). His love for Gustav Mahler's work began in his student days with the Fourth and Fifth symphonies, followed by the Second and Third. Favourite performers are (invariably) Claudio Abbado, Mariss Jansons and Bernard Haitink. Since the Mahler series at the Concertgebouw (2010-2011), he has become an increasingly passionate listener of almost all symphonies and songs. For now, the Eighth is a work in progress...

Freddy van Maurik graduated as a musicologist at Utrecht University in 2003 with Prof Paul Op de Coul with a thesis on Mahler's early manuscripts, namely the Klavierquartettsatz, the scherzo fragment for piano quartet, some two song fragments and an early sketch of the Kräftig, bewegt from the First Symphony. He has been on the editorial board since 2006, and has been a member of the GMSN board since 2009.

Frank Hagemans has been a long-time donor to the Gustav Mahler Stichting Nederland and joined the board as secretary in 2023.