Jaap van Keulen (Winschoten, 1966) is a composer based in Arnhem. He studied drawing and painting at ArtEZ University of the Arts and has been creating musical theater since 1988.
Over the years, he has composed music for theater and dance productions as well as documentary films, some of which have received awards. As a self-taught composer, he has developed a personal cinematic style—sometimes lyrical, sometimes experimental, often minimalist and poetic.
In the 1990s, he studied flamenco guitar and percussion in the Netherlands and southern Spain, though flamenco influences are subtle in his compositions. His primary instrument remains the guitar, but over time he has become a multi-instrumentalist, incorporating percussion, upright bass, and vibraphone into his work. Naturally, the computer has also become an essential part of his workflow.