“So, I fell on the recording you made of my concerto, and I started listening as if in close-up. And in doing so, I heard your playing ‘under the surface’; and once again I was impressed by the nuances in expression, your subtle sense of timing, your engagement, musical will-force and tonal beauty. You seek in your play rather the natural than the spectacular, but a natural that you have explored in its depths, its fullness, and then … simply let go, without claiming it. « Je cherche à cacher l’art par l’art même », to paraphrase Rameau.” (Hendrik Bouman) 

In 1974 Heiko began to study the recorder at the Utrecht Conservatory under Leo Meilink and Marion Verbruggen and obtained in 1981 his diploma ‘Practicing Musician’.

In his family it is said that Heiko sang long before he started speaking. During his studies at the conservatory he continued to sing. He was a permanent member of the choirs Capella Trajectina and the Nederlandse Cantorij and participated in the yearly performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion by the Nederlandse Bachvereniging.

The many colours that singers can produce inspired him to explore different timbres on the recorder as well. As a result, his playing of the recorder has become a testament to his love for singing.

As a soloist and orchestra member he plays in many countries in Europe, the Americas, Japan and Israel with orchestras such as the Nederlandse Bachvereniging, ‘The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra’ led by Ton Koopman and ‘Les Talens Lyriques’ led by Christophe Rousset. Among others, he also worked closely with Gustav Leonhardt, Philippe Herreweghe, Ketil Haugsand, Leo van Doeselaar, Hendrik Bouman, Jan Jansen and Jaap Zwart.  

He took part in many CD-productions, such as the recordings of the entire Bach cantates with Ton Koopman. Together with Zvi Meniker (harpsichord) he recorded his first solo-CD with works of Bach. In 1997 a CD with Dutch baroque works followed, in 2009 the recorder sonatas of G.F. Händel and Hendrik Bouman’s Concerto for recorder and strings, and lastly in 2011 the recorder sonatas of G. Ph. Telemann, in collaboration with Mieneke van der Velden (viola da gamba), with whom he has worked since 1971.

Students from all over the world come to study with Heiko in Utrecht, where he has been teaching at the Conservatory (HKU) since 1987. He is also a popular teacher for courses and masterclasses in countries such as Germany, France, Portugal, Czechia, Estonia, Japan and Israel.

Besides his activities as a player and teacher, Heiko keeps busy with making recorders after historical examples.