Phia berghout biography sample

PHIA  BERGHOUT  1909 – 1993

Sophia Rosa Berghout was born in Rotterdam in 1909 into a musical family.  Her father, Johannes Cornelis Berghout, was an all-round musician, who taught, directed choirs and chamber orchestras, and wrote church music.

Phia began her musical studies with her father at the age of five on the piano and when she was six on the violin.

She took up the harp at the age of fifteen, with Rosa Spier. After a difficult choice between Chemistry and Harp, she entered the Amsterdam Conservatoire where she received degrees in orchestral as well as solo playing.

Phia berghout biography sample

Phia thoroughly enjoyed this study period, but it was also a time of financial need and she earned her living by playing with the Fritz Hirsch Operette, a musical comedy group.

From 1933 to 1945 Phia was second harp of the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

During this time she was briefly married to Johannes den Hertog. In 1945 Phia followed in her teacher’s footsteps to become p