Early bird or night owl?
Early bird… the greatest feeling is when you have already done the majority of your “to-do” list before lunch.
One routine you swear by?
As a Dutchman I swear by riding my bike to work each day.
Can’t travel without…?
I’m a light traveller, usually with just a small backpack with only a few essentials.
Who or what has influenced you most in your career?
Martijn Sanders (former CEO of Concertgebouw), who taught me to dream big while keeping my feet on the ground.
Favourite city to perform in and why?
Hong Kong. Few cities have it all: mountains, rainforest, the sea, an impressive skyline, the best food in the world and the nicest people.
Guilty pleasure/indulgence?
Singing along to Disney soundtracks with my kids (loudly!).
Joy-Leilani Garbutt is the co-founder of Boulanger Initiative, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting music composed by women through performance, education and commissions. To discover more, visit
