Biography
Roon Staal (full name: Hieronymus Ede Hendrik Staal) was born on March 6, 1980, in Hoorn. He spent his early years in Norway, growing up with his parents, two brothers, and two sisters. His love for music emerged early on. After returning to the Netherlands, he sang in the Michaëlskoor choir in Oosterland and began taking piano lessons, partly because there was always a piano at home.
At the age of eleven, an exceptional opportunity immediately arose: he played the role of Gavroche in the Dutch production of Les Misérables. This marked the beginning of a youth in which music, theatre, and television quickly followed one another. He performed with Johnny Kraaijkamp Sr. at the Tuschinski Theatre and sang a duet with Ruth Jacott from the musical Oliver.
Roon Staal (full name: Hieronymus Ede Hendrik Staal) was born on March 6, 1980, in Hoorn. He spent his early years in Norway, growing up with his parents, two brothers, and two sisters. His love for music emerged early on. After returning to the Netherlands, he sang in the Michaëlskoor choir in Oosterland and began taking piano lessons, partly because there was always a piano at home.
At the age of eleven, an exceptional opportunity immediately arose: he played the role of Gavroche in the Dutch production of Les Misérables. This marked the beginning of a youth in which music, theatre, and television quickly followed one another. He performed with Johnny Kraaijkamp Sr. at the Tuschinski Theatre and sang a duet with Ruth Jacott from the musical Oliver.
During his pre-university education, Roon provided live music in a seaside restaurant in North Holland, until a new chapter unexpectedly presented itself: a musical collaboration in Hollywood. There, he worked with two producers on five recordings, followed by performances in the United States, including singing the American national anthem for 19,000 spectators in Seattle.
During the same period, a special musical bond also developed with Art Garfunkel, whose opening act Roon performed. The American singer praised his voice and musicality. Gilbert O’Sullivan (photo) would later also express his appreciation and open his studio for recordings.
During his pre-university education, Roon provided live music in a seaside restaurant in North Holland, until a new chapter unexpectedly presented itself: a musical collaboration in Hollywood. There, he worked with two producers on five recordings, followed by performances in the United States, including singing the American national anthem for 19,000 spectators in Seattle.
During the same period, a special musical bond also developed with Art Garfunkel, whose opening act Roon performed. The American singer praised his voice and musicality. Gilbert O’Sullivan (photo) would later also express his appreciation and open his studio for recordings.
A musical journey
Around the year 2000, Roon and his brother Roelf recorded the song "Help Me Through The Night", written by their uncle Ede Staal. The song became a beloved classic in the Northern Netherlands and is still widely listened to today. Songs such as "Nog Elke Dag" are also among the works with which many listeners strongly associate him.
His artistic path then led him back to the theater. In 2002, he played the lead role in the rock opera Tommy, a highly acclaimed production by the Royal Netherlands Air Force Orchestra. Later he took on a role in Rembrandt, in which he played Titus van Rijn alongside Henk Poort and Syb van der Ploeg, among others. For his role in Petticoat, he later received a nomination for a musical award.
Parallel to his artistic work, Roon studied philosophy at the University of Amsterdam, with a minor in physical geography, a combination that helped shape his reflective and substantive approach to music.
After his period in theatre, Asia strongly attracted him. He found a second home in Vladivostok, on the Sea of Japan, where he regularly stayed and gave concerts. Over the years, a clear artistic connection with Japan also developed, and he remained closely linked to Norway. As a result, his work gradually evolved into an artistic path with a striking international character.
In 2010, his first full studio album, The Journey, was released, recorded in Gilbert O'Sullivan's studio. Since then, more than fifteen albums and various singles have been released, including In The Silence Of Light, Meditations Of A Singer-Songwriter, Promise, Peace, Dreamland, The Christmas Album III, and In Concert II. Recent singles such as Grateful also show how his work continues to evolve.
After his period in theatre, Asia strongly attracted him. He found a second home in Vladivostok, on the Sea of Japan, where he regularly stayed and gave concerts. Over the years, a clear artistic connection with Japan also developed, and he remained closely linked to Norway. As a result, his work gradually evolved into an artistic path with a striking international character.
In 2010, his first full studio album, The Journey, was released, recorded in Gilbert O'Sullivan's studio. Since then, more than fifteen albums and various singles have been released, including In The Silence Of Light, Meditations Of A Singer-Songwriter, Promise, Peace, Dreamland, The Christmas Album III, and In Concert II. Recent singles such as Grateful also show how his work continues to evolve.
With multiple national tours annually, Roon is one of the few independent artists in the Netherlands who, outside of the regular music industry, maintains a continuous live circuit entirely on his own. His concerts are characterized by tranquility, a personal narrative style, piano playing, and a direct closeness to the audience.
In addition to music, Roon also built a completely different project: in 2004, he founded the Voetbal Talenten Toernooi (Football Talent Tournament), a national youth football organization that has been active since 2004 and in which thousands of young players have participated.
With multiple national tours annually, Roon is one of the few independent artists in the Netherlands who, outside of the regular music industry, maintains a continuous live circuit entirely on his own. His concerts are characterized by tranquility, a personal narrative style, piano playing, and a direct closeness to the audience.
In addition to music, Roon also built a completely different project: in 2004, he founded the Voetbal Talenten Toernooi (Football Talent Tournament), a national youth football organization that has been active since 2004 and in which thousands of young players have participated.
Life off stage
In his private life, he is a father of two children. Fatherhood brought new depth to his life and work, in which themes such as time, vulnerability, and the future gained an even clearer place. Prior to his current fatherhood, Roon underwent a donor process to help others with their wish for children. As a result, he is also a donor father to several children.
Another remarkable chapter is his long journey on foot through Europe. Step by step, he traveled through the Netherlands, Belgium, France, England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, with Scandinavia as his subsequent route. This journey reflects something that is also recognizable in his music: unhurried movement, searching without a pre-defined goal, and attention to what emerges along the way.
Those who follow Roon Staal will encounter an artist who is difficult to pigeonhole into one form: singer, pianist, writer, traveler, and thinker, always seeking authenticity, depth, and beauty.