My biographical information...
(Some of this information can also be found on other pages.)
My name is Emiel F.A.J. Stöpler. I live in Zwolle, The Netherlands and spend my days playing guitar, writing music and writing short stories. I'm also into websites: I build them, that is. I use XHTML/CSS and JavaScript and have done server side scripting in ASP.Net, although I'm in the process of changing over to PHP.
After rather unfruitful attempts at drums and clarinet, I began to play guitar when I was almost eightteen. I had thought I'd learn some chords, but instead, I was introduced to classical guitar. Right from the start, I became quite enthousiastic and began to practice about 4 hours each day. I made quick progress.
Almost immediately, I began to compose as well.
Not much later, I decided to pursue music as a career. I studied classical guitar and composition at conservatories in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Ghent, Belgium. Although I never succeeded in getting my actual degree, I am still active in both disciplines.
Throughout the years, I received a small (though gratifying) number of commissions to write music. My music is characterized by influences from pop, jazz and film music, although always written for a classical instrumentation. In recent years I have begun to play amplified acoustic guitar (nylon strung), which I prefer over non-amplified. It is much more suitable for ensemble playing as well.
In 2007 my first book “Zwerftochten” (“Wanderings”) was published by a renowned publisher in the Netherlands (SWP Book, Amsterdam).
In 2008, I won a third prize in an Italian composition competition organized by the Accademia della Chitarra di Brescia.
There have been a number of performances and publications of my pieces worldwide. They're listed on the music page. I've been wanting to release a Cd for years now. It is looking like 2009 might be the year where this will occur.
In 2006, I began a course in webdesign/webprogramming. At the moment, I'm in the process of trying to get parttime work in this field.
My websites:
- Myspace: www.myspace.com/cothedo
- TechBlog: www.mytechcorner.com
- CreativeBlog: denkgedachten.blogspot.com
- Poetry: www.internetgedichten.nl
