Geert Chatrou - I Whistled Music For Films & Commercials, Made Three Albums, Did Workshops In Companies And At Schools Etcetera (Whistler, Netherland)

 

Keep having joy in what you do! If it is becoming a burden, you have to change a routine. Further, practice is key, with my ‘instrument’ that is easy, because it’s always available and in tune. 

1. Tell us more about your background and journey.

I’m 52 years old and I have always been working as a nurse in psychiatry and also as a teacher in nursing school. A few years I worked as a bell-tuner at the Royal Eijsbouts’s bell foundry. Before the pandemic I worked as the ringmaster in the show Corteo from Cirque du Soleil. Of course I also had a whistling act in that show. 

2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue whistling and how did you start?

It happened to me at a Christmas eve dinner at my parents in law I whistled a lot with the music they had on. My sister in law was kind of annoyed with that and asked me several times to stop. Which I couldn’t because whistling is kind of a second nature for me; I just do it and strangely, I’m not aware of it. 

At one point I said that if there was a contest I would join. And forgot about it. 

In January (it was 2004) I received a text from my sister saying: ‘Geert you’re going to America’. 

She entered me for the world championship of whistling! She didn’t expect me to go but I decided I wanted to be part of it and booked a trip to the US and won. 

3. Who is your favourite artist and why?

This is such a hard question. My music of choice varies from listening to Bach to Led Zeppelin to Walter Trout. 

4. Can you throw some light on opportunities one gets as a whistler/musician?

I’ve done many performances, with full symphony orchestras and chamber orchestras, I whistled music for films and commercials, made three albums, did workshops in companies and at schools etcetera. 

5. Is format training required or can one train themselves purely on the basis of talent?

You absolutely need talent. But, as with a lot of things, if you really are able to put a lot of energy and perseverance in it you can become good. Myself, I don’t practice a lot; for me it is more a natural thing. 

6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?

First and most important, be sure you keep having joy in what you do! If it is becoming a burden, you have to change a routine. Further, practice is key, with my ‘instrument’ that is easy, because it’s always available and in tune. 

7. Which is your favourite book and why?

Again so difficult! I read a lot. let’s just name one. I liked reading the Pelgrim by Terry Hayes. Fiction, suspense and an easy read. Pure relaxing. 

- Geert Chatrou

- Interviewed by Anamika Ajith