KY FIFER - lead vocals, composer, lyricist and multi instruments
Vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Ky Fifer resides in the USA in the state of Oregon. Whether it be singing and co-writing in Philhelmon, or playing, writing, and producing his other bands, Ky enjoys adding his eclectic sensibility to everything he touches. Contributing to the band Philhelmon with Henk Bol is one of his great joys.

CLEEM DETERMEIJER - piano and keyboards
Cleem is a dutch classically-trained and an incredible pianist who has a very long career in pop, prog and classical music. He played with best friend Henk Bol in blues-prog band 'Crusade' till 1974. After that joining Finch, Ayreon and many more groups. Considered by many to be one of the more overlooked progressive rock groups, 'Finch' were a dutch instrumental band that recorded three albums in the seventies. 'Ayreon' music is mostly heavy metal and progressive rock but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica. He recently joins the rock opera ‘Magoria’ composed by Philhelmon guestplayer Mark Bogert.

CEES ZOETEWEIJ - keyboards, bluesharp
Friends and classmates since the sixties Cees and Henk Bol played for more then 50 years together in various bands like 'Crusade" in the Netherlands. He is a gifted Blues piano player but has no problem playing other styles on Hammond, Synthesizer Saxophone and Bluesharp, etc. He is now retired but still active and recorded more then 40 solo cd's in his homestudio.

TON SCHERPENZEEL - lead synthesizer
Is a Dutch keyboardist, composer, lyricist, and founding member of Dutch legendary progressive rock band Kayak. Subsequent to Kayak, Scherpenzeel joined British progressive rock band Camel, also played with Dutch band Earth and Fire and released several solo albums. In addition to his association with progressive rock bands, Ton Scherpenzeel has made a name for himself in the Dutch theatre and film scene as composer/producer of multiple musical productions and was the accompanying keyboardist to Dutch comedian Youp van 't Hek. Henk Bol designed the cover and booklet for his solo album Velvet Armour.

 

ALESSANDRO BERTONI - lead synthesizer

Classically-trained Italian keyboardist Alessandro Bertoni was a member of instrumental progressive metal band 'Aphelion', whose only full-length album, Franticode (2008) was produced by none other than keyboardist Derek Sherinian - one of the icons of modern prog-fusion. In 2009 Bertoni moved to Los Angeles like so many talented musicians before him to work as a teacher and session player. He also recorded his first solo album, Keystone in LA, resuming his collaboration with Derek Sherinian and now plays in the Graham Bonnet Band.

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NICK OOSTERHUIS (R.I.P.) - keyboards, piano, lead guitar, composer

Friends with me since the seventies but we never played in the same band. Throughout his multi-faceted career, Nick Oosterhuis has been regarded as a gifted performer, a musical virtuoso and an inspired songwriter. After finishing Henk Bol first solo project in 1985 he moved to Germany. Through this venture Nick has been fortunate to participate in countless records (performing and/or writing) for many major artists. With a broken heart I have to announce that my dear friend Nick, buddy, partner in crime, brother in arms, lost his battle with cancer and passed away on 10 december 2021. Thank you so much for 50 years of friendship, happiness and making music. Farewell my dear friend, you always be a part of me and my music.

 

PJOTR JURTSCHENKO - flute, saxophones
Pjotr playes the flute since the age of 16. His first band was the symphonic rockband 'Crusade' together with Henk Bol in 1974. Then he also started playing different saxophones and became a member of the commercial band ‘Exclusive’ in which he did a lot of gigs.  He participated on 2 CD's of tango singer Mabel Gonzales. But also on all the 'Philhelmon' and 'Melle Band' albums. He still is playing in several other bands- and Bigbands.

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HANS HOLEMA - lead guitar

Hans and Henk Bol met on the internet about 12 years ago. He is a multi-instrumentalist playing guitars, keyboards, bass, drums etc. He has a very broad musical background, playing for over 50 years. In that time he has been influenced by 70’s and 80’s symphonic rock, jazz rock/fusion and nowadays progressive metal to name a few. Currently playing with his own prog band 'Whitecave".

 

GREG DEN HARTOG - lead guitar

Is a dutch guitar virtuoso playing in his metal-band 'Sudden Annihilation' and they recorded their first album in Florida - USA. He also tours the Europe and the Middle East as an international session guitarist with metal-band 'Melechesh’. Also founder of a new project ‘Steal Thy Roots’, a reggae vibed metal fusion band.

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JOHN VOORBROOD - lead guitar

John and Henk Bol met thru a mutual acquaintance about 4 years ago.

Currently playing with his own metal band ‘Highmars’, where the power of heavy metal meets the vibrant spirit of the Netherlands!

 

MARK BOGERT - lead guitar

Mark Bogert is one of Dutch true guitar virtuoso. He formed progressive rock band 'Penny’s Twisted Flavour' with which he self released one album before joining Holland’s biggest prog outfit 'Knight Area'. His solo work enables him to share his musical stories, all told by his guitar. At the age of seven he got in touch with music. Aged twelve he discovered the guitar. Beside playing the guitar, composing and arranging have played an important role in Mark's development. He has written compositions and arrangements for various line-ups and regularly travels through Europe to teach and to conduct clinics and workshops. He is the composer and frontman of the ‘Magoria’ and this second rock-opera Hollingsworth Mansion is now released and on stage.

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​MAGNUS BRANDELL - drums

Meet Magnus Brandell from Sweden, OddGrooves’ hard-working drummer. As a session drummer, Magnus is often hired to play the really difficult stuff, such as fusion, progressive rock and weird time signatures. After all, he was trained by Dream Theater 'Mike Mangini’ at the Berklee College of Music. But it’s not only Magnus’ chops that sets him apart from the crowd. It’s also his sense of groove, timing and sheer musicality. His ability to push a song to the next level.

 

MELS BOL - drums

Not related to Henk Bol but classmates and best friends since the sixties. Mels played with him in blues-prog band 'Crusade’ and he was featering in many more famous dutch groups like 'Fontesa' and 'Cuby and the Blizzards' in which he played with the legendary Herman Brood. Today Mels is working on different solo Jazz projects and Big bands. With The Bill Bakers Bigband he toured in England and the U.S.A. From time to time he performs with his Melle Quartet in which he composes and writes the lyrics.

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TIGER BROOKE - backing vocals

Tiger is from Oregon USA but hate biographies, according to her they take the mystery out of everything. But she is a composer/singer of studio band 'The Redtop Medusa Project’ and artistic director at Portly Pig Arts were they explore stop motion fusion by creating amazing work at the intersection of art, technology and entertainment.

 

MARGIE HODGSON-FIFER - backing vocals

Margie is a music teacher, choral ensemble leader, and shares vocal duties with Tiger Brooke, Greg West, and Ky Fifer in the Redtop Medusa Project. She often frequents Ky's Youtube channel lending her voice, keyboard skills, and arrangement ideas to the occasional cover song he posts. She can also be heard voice acting in the occasional animation project through Portly Pig Studios.

 

MARLOU VRIENS - backing vocals

Marlou Vriens is a Rotterdam based singer, songwriter, and composer. In 2009 she graduated Music in Education at Codarts conservatory Rotterdam. In 2020 she got her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg. Her music is transparent, honest, refined and raw at the same time. Marlou writes about what matters to her, her music draws on a wide range of influences,
from classical to jazz and pop to soul. Her vocal flexibility is her trademark, Marlou is thrilled to be singing backing vocals for Philhelmon alongside her youth choir “Out of the Blue”. 

 

DUSTIN ROSE - backing vocals

Dustin Rose is a true USA Northwest original. He uses his personal experiences in life to create music that is both rich with meaning and sonically beautiful. He is known for his tight vocal harmonies, organic piano sound, and strong acoustic guitar presence. He can transition from beautiful tenor to gritty and unique with an edgy feel in a heartbeat. Dustin has been performing live for over 20 years as a solo act, in bands and most recently with Wilson Fifer Rose.

 

AUSTIN WILSON - backing vocals

Austin is a singer and actor form Oregon USA .Having known each other for 10 years or more he, Ky Fifer, and Dustin Rose have sung separately and together in choirs, bands, musicals, karaoke bars, on street corners, and in just about any other capacity one can fathom. However, it wasn't until the summer of 2011 that they finally decided to officaly put some songs down together for a full length album.

 

GREG WEST - backing vocals

Greg from the USA Is singer of studio band 'The Redtop Medusa Project’ and artistic director at Portly Pig Arts were they explore stop motion fusion by creating work at the intersection of art, technology, and entertainment.

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JOHN HAVERMANS (R.I.P.) - synthesizers, church organ, composer, sequences and programmingWith a broken heart I have to announce that my dear friend, buddy, partner in crime, brother in arms, John Havermans lost his battle with cancer and passed away on 12 march 2017. Thank you so much for 36 years of friendship, happiness and making music. John was worldwide known as a doctor in science at TNO and very well respected for his research by his colleague's around the globe. But he was also specialized in modular and analog synthesizers and worked together with me on lots of other projects like 'Ayreon' and 'Precious Time'. Farewell my dear friend, you always be a part of me and my music.

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JOHN GEEL - cello
John and Henk met in 2002 during a New Years party at John Havermans house. After talking long about music Henk joined their band ‘Precious Time’ till 2008 and recorded two albums with them. Today they still work together on different occasions. John now writes music under the name Giovanni Blue.

NATHALIE MEES - soprano voice
What does a classic dutch educated soprano with a progressive rock band I hear you think. Well there is only one answer she loves prog. Nathalie studied music registration at the Royal conservatorium with classic singing as a capital subject and graduated in 2005. She was the backing vocalist on tour with Liesbeth List (a famous Dutch female singer). In 2012 she joined progressive rock band 'PBII' as soprano and official member of band for the Rock-opera 1000 Wishes. There was no better opportunity for her to join two worlds.

ANA BATISTA - vocal
Ana Batista is the voice of Heylel, a progressive rock band from Portugal founded by Narciso Monteiro. The band combines influences ranging from classic to hard and even symphonic rock, with a very personal touch. The outcome is a dark, atmospheric and involving sound, gracefully combined with Ana’s beautiful voice. Their new album "Shades of Time” is full of surprises, featuring well known guests from the international prog scene like our own Ky Fifer, Kristoffer Gildenlow, Erik Laan and Portuguese singer Francisca Ribeiro.

JACOPO BIGI - electric violin
He is a professional violin player and teacher from Italy. Played alone and as part of a chamber. He has been recorded for radio and played live for the world to see. He is a member of the band 'Armonite’ with composer Paolo Fosso, Porcupine Tree's bassist Colin Edwin and Dutch drummer Jasper Barendregt. Their album The Sun is New each Day is produced by the producer of Muse Paul Reeve, mastering at the Abbey Road Studios. Share your dose of Armonite each day; it's online for free!

MICHAEL SAMSON - leadguitar
Michael is an old colleague of Henk Bol during the nineties but he also was a classmate of Nick Oosterhuis in the sixties. What a small world after all. Guitar teacher at VAK Institute for the Arts in Delft and also at his private teaching practice. He enjoys, giving workshops and considers that a very inspiring and refreshing musical activity. Besides teaching he mainly focuses on composing, arranging and recording his own music. Michael Samson has played with among others jazz-fusion flautists Ronald Snijders and Chris Hinze and has also with the great alto player Charlie Mariano.

ALBERT HOUWAART - lead guitar
Another true Dutch but very modest guitar virtuoso, loves to play the guitar and keyboards.

DENNIS DE BRUIJN - leadguitar
Dennis also known as Scali Bohemiq is another modest great dutch guitarplayer and we are very glad to had him on board.

 

ED BOL - leadguitar

Not related to Henk Bol another modest great dutch guitarplayer and we are very glad to had him on board.

PETER VAN RAVENS - classical guitar
Peter and Henk Bol met somewhre in the nineties. After studying cultural anthropology and HBO-V, he worked as a medical nurse. But the guitar remained his passion and he started guitar teaching in 1995. Since 2005 he has his own guitar school in Vlaardingen, an inspiring work environment where musical colleagues and pupils are certainly responsible for fun!

CHRIS BUCK - bass guitar
Above all else.... music has always been the most serious part of his life and never less than an obsessive passion. In 2006 Chris started ”Progasaurus" when he made the decision to create a project that's soul was strictly musical. The music recorded since then was magnified so greatly by his friends the unearthly talents of Brett Garsed, Derek Sherinian, Virgil Donati, Brian Tichy and of course the one and only Allan Holdsworth. Right now Chris is touring the USA regularly with famous musician Jim Messina.

ERWIN HUIGEN - fretless bass guitar
Is an allround upright and electric bass player from Dordrecht in the Netherlands. Inclined to grab the fretless bass guitar most frequently, because of the beautiful “mwah” sound. Finds himself lucky to have an active music career next to his work as an engineer. Music brought him to play at many beautiful venues in and outside the Netherlands a.o. with singer songwriter Marlou Vriens.

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RON HURST - drums

Ron is the drummer of famous band 'Steppenwolf'. He is also a drum teacher at MIR Music in Hillsboro, Oregon USA where he met Ky Fifer. He grew up with Steppenwolf keyboardist Michael Wilk. They toured the Northeast U.S. and shared the stage with other then-unknown bands the likes of J. Geils Band and Aerosmith. As a fill-in drummer he has played with 'Three Dog Night' and 'The Guess Who', performed with the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam Band, and played encores with The Doobie Brothers. He started off as a jazz drummer, playing swing and big band styles and accompanying the legendary Chuck Berry.

 

JAY SETAR - drums

Californian drummer Jay Setar is perfectly matched to the skills needed for technical and progressive music. Jay Setar provides mind-blowing beats that compliment Philhelmon's progressive style.

JORIS BOL - drums
Not related in anyway to Henk Bol but they met on Facebook. Joris is the drummer of Dutch progressive rock band 'The Aurora Project', known for their concept-albums 'Selling The Aggression' and 'World Of Grey'.

MAARTEN BOL - drums
Not related in anyway to Henk Bol but they met on facebook. Maarten is from Katwijk the Netherlands and he started playing drums at the age of 8. Through local bands, orchestra an music educational schools as a child, he became the awesome drummer that he his today.
 
RICHARD KALLEN - lyricist
Rick Kallen grew up in the 80's, and it shows. He enjoys writing, customizing cars, watching cartoons, and thinking about outer space at his home in Portland, Oregon in the USA.

OUT OF THE BLUE CHOIR - backing vocals
Youth Choir “Out of the Blue" is based in Gouda, founded by Marlou Vriens in 2011. Out of the Blue has had quiet a ride. They were invited twice for the International Choir Festival in Solingen (2013 and 2017), in Belgium and sang with vocal group Pitch Control and Bonner Jazzchor. Out of the Blue is known for their wide range of musical interests, singing a variety of pop/jazz arrangements and originals by Marlou Vriens.

KERYGMA CHOIR - backing vocals
The Kyregma Choir is an enthusiastic choir from Capelle aan den IJssel, the Netherlands. The choir has 25 members and their repertoire consists of Dutch and English songs, ballads, worn-and up-tempo songs, both gospel-and generation Church songs. With this wide variety of songs they want to proclaim (Kerygma means Notification) that faith plays an important role in their lives. For many years the choir is conducted by Addy van der Knaap who played drums with Henk Bol in their company band.