Starting in September 2026, the Nieuwe Kerk in Groningen will offer an annual internship for a conservatory student studying organ and/or church music. The intern will play the Timpe organ (*1831) during ten morning services, with opportunities for additional responsibilities (conducting the Nieuwe Kerk choir, providing organ accompaniment for Choral Evensong, and organizing an organ concert). Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2026. Send your application to: timpe-orgelstage@proton.me .
More on the internship
The Nieuwe Kerk in Groningen is part of the Protestant Congregation of Groningen. In its 2022–2026 multi-year policy plan, ‘City connected to the Nieuwe Kerk – Nieuwe Kerk connected to the City’, the Nieuwe Kerk has expressed its desire to bring society into the church and to enrich it. The Nieuwe Kerk stated that it possesses centuries-old insights regarding meaning, comfort and innovative love. We wish to share these with the people around us and, in doing so, shape new generations. In this context, we indicated a desire to host a community that offers placements for ministers, organists and/or church musicians. The involvement of interns can therefore be a challenge for us: questions are raised, and input from the wider world flows in naturally. But our vision also goes out into the world with people. It has taken a while, but now we are getting started.
The content of the internship:
- The intern will play the organ during ten morning services on the second Sunday of the month in which the internship supervisor is active as conductor of the Cantorij van de Nieuwe Kerk for one academic year (September–June)
- The intern may prepare one of the ten morning services with the choir and lead the Cantorij van de Nieuwe Kerk in that service whilst the internship supervisor is active as organist during the service.
- If the intern demonstrates the necessary skills during the placement, they may be given the opportunity to lead the choir on a one-off basis during Choral Evensong (the afternoon service on the third Sunday of the month).
- If the intern demonstrates the necessary qualities during the placement, they may give an organ recital as part of the Friends of the Nieuwe Kerk concert series.
- Points two, three and four will only take place following consultation with the choir Choral Voices and the Friends of the Nieuwe Kerk respectively, once suitability has been demonstrated during the internship, based on the selection committee’s assessment.
Requirements:
• At the time of the selection period, candidates must be admitted to the second year of a Bachelor’s degree in church music and/or organ. By the start of the internship, they must in any case be admitted to the third year of the Bachelor’s degree in church music and/or organ.
• Candidates must provide information regarding their knowledge and skills, which can be submitted digitally: audio recordings of services performed, concerts played and/or similar activities.
• Experience in choral conducting is desirable; if applicable, the candidate must provide audiovisual recordings of this.
Selection procedure
The selection committee consists of the cantor-organist (who has a casting vote) and several members of the Nieuwe Kerk Groningen (who have an advisory vote). Procedural aspects of the selection are determined by the parish council of the Nieuwe Kerk.
More on the Timpe organ
Organ builder Petrus van Oeckelen and Samuel Wolther Trip, a lawyer and music lover, collaborated on the drawing of the Nieuwe Kerk organ. The Müller organ of the Grote of St. Bavokerk served as a model for the organ façade. Van Oeckelen also drew up a construction plan, which organ builders could bid on in 1829. The commission was awarded to the Groningen organ builder Johannes Wilhelmus Timpe (1770–1837).
Under the supervision of Van Oeckelen and Trip, the organ was assembled in the church. In May 1831, the instrument was completed and put into use. Organ builder Doornbos took over the maintenance of the organ in the end of the ninteenth century and equipped the organ with a wind motor in 1921. In 1976 a major restoration of the organ started. In 2009, a second restoration took place.
In the Sunday morning services, the organ—skillfully played by one of our organists—always plays an important role. The organ is also featured during the traditional cantata services and Christmas Carols, the Choral Evensongs, and the afternoon services. The organ music always complements the theme of these special services.
More on Mannes Hofsink
Mannes Hofsink (*1981) serves as cantor-organist at the Nieuwe Kerk in Groningen. He is also the city carillonneur of Meppel, conductor of the Wijker Kunst Choir, and pianist for the Meppel Men’s Choir. In addition, he maintains a concert and teaching practice.
Mannes studied organ (first phase) and church music with Gijs van Schoonhoven at the Saxion University of Applied Sciences in Enschede, conservatory department. He studied organ (second phase) at the Messiaen Academy with Cor Ardesch and also with Gijs van Schoonhoven, choral conducting at the Prince Claus Conservatory in Groningen with Louis Buskens, and carillon (Bachelor and Proficient of Carillon) at the Carillon Institute of the Netherlands with Boudewijn Zwart. For many years, organist Toon Hagen coached him in improvisation and interpretation. He also participated in several study weekends organized by the Leadership Academy Conductors. He is currently taking improvisation lessons with organist Hayo Boerema.
For more information, visit manneshofsink.nl
