Conductor of Jong Vocaal Groningen since 2016 

Merlijn Wackers started taking violin lessons at a young age and played in various orchestras and ensembles. He studied Music Education and majored in choral conducting under Louis Buskens at the Prince Claus Conservatory in Groningen and pursued a master's degree in choral conducting under Klaas Stok at the Artez Conservatory in Zwolle. He completed part of this master's program at the conservatory in Piteå (Sweden) under Erik Westberg and Petter Sundkvist.

Merlijn participated multiple times in the Kurt Thomas Course, where he worked with a professional chamber choir and received lessons from, among others, Hans Leenders, Steffen Schreyer, and Martin Wright. As a choir singer, Merlijn took part in projects with the Noordkoor, the Noordelijk Vocaal Ensemble, and the Musikhögkolans kammarkör Piteå, among others. He was involved in the Noordelijk Koorfestival as an organizer, conductor, and workshop leader in 2007 and 2011. Merlijn is also the permanent conductor of Capella Groningen and mixed choir Kwajr in Groningen. Merlijn also works as a répétiteur for Vocaal Ensemble Cantatrix.