André de Jager (11/01/1964 - 08/02/2023), a Dutch organist and composer; born in Emmeloord, the Netherlands. He began taking organ lessons at the age of nine. After moving to Papendrecht he continued his studies in 1975 with the organist Jan J. van den Berg in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft, where until the beginning of 1987 he studied a large part of the organ repertoire and studied for the national music exams. From March1987 till September 1997 André was autodidact concerning studying repertoire and from September 1997 till November 2004 he has also been studying the romantic organ repertoire with Ben van Oosten at the Grote Kerk in The Hague. From May 1993 till May 1998 he has been studying the art of improvisation with Jan Bonefaas at the Grote Kerk in Gorinchem and from October 2003 until July 2006 with Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin at Saint-Sulpice in Paris. In Mai 1998 André de Jager attended a masterclass in registration and interpretation by the famous French organist Jean Guillou.
In 1979 and 1980 André won firts prize at the National Organ Competition in Elburg. Since 1980 André has given concerts both home and abroad, he takes part in record, CD, radio and TV recordings, gives organ lessons and composes for organ, choir, solo voice and instrumental music. He also accompanies a large number of choirs in the Netherlands. André de Jager is principal organist on the Blank organ (1976) at the Bethlehemkerk in Papendrecht.
His preference is for the French romantic organ repertoire, which is apparent by the fact that he is committed to making this beautiful music better known. Up to now he has performed all 8 of Guilmant’s sonates, all 10 of Widor’s symphonies, all 6 of Vierne’s symphonies and all four of Vierne's suites and both symphonies of Dupré. Inspired by the French composers Widor and Vierne, André is one of the few Dutch organist/composers to have written 5 symphonies for organ. He also composed two Cantatas and a Requiem for choir and orchestra.
His first solo organ CD came out in 1992, played on the Kam & van der Meulen organ (1859, III/P/51) in the Grote Kerk in Dordrecht (NL). In 1995 the second CD was releaesed, played on the Eisenbarth organ (1987, II/P/32) in the St. Paul in Bocholt (Ger). In 1997 the third CD was released, played on the Eisenbarth-organ (1997, III/P/39) in the St. Peter & Paul in Wiltz (Lux.) with the 1st and 2nd symphony of André de Jager. In 1997 the fourth CD was released, played on the Eisenbarth-organ (1997, III/P/39) in the St. Peter & Paul in Wiltz (Lux.) with improvisations.
Because of his services to French organ music in April 2007 André de Jager was decorated by the French Société Académique d'éducation et d'encouragement "Arts, Sciences, Lettres" in Paris.