Ben van Dijk

Biography

Born in 1955 in The Hague, Ben van Dijk received his first trombone lessons from his father, Piet van Dijk, who at the time was solo trombonist of The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ben studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and earned his Solo Diploma cum laude for bass trombone in 1980. He was the first trombonist in Holland to receive a Diploma as bass trombonist and since then it is possible to study bass trombone at all conservatories in the Netherlands. He then continued his study in Los Angeles with Jeff Reynolds and Roger Bobo. Besides these two great players and teachers, the recordings of Edward Kleinhammer with the Chicago Symphony and George Robert's studio recordings had a great influence on Ben's development as a bass trombonist.

He thinks it is very important to listen to as much different music styles as possible and not only to trombone music. Besides his daily work he likes to listen to and play in: flamenco, pop groups, jazz ensembles and all sort of chamber music. His all favourite musicians are: Maurice André, Michel Becquet, Valery Gergiev, Placido Domingo, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, El Camaron de la Isla and Paco de Lucia.

In 1976 he was appointed as bass trombonist with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. After being for 23 years the bass trombonist of this orchestra, Ben switched to an other orchestra in September 1998. Asked by chiefconductor, Valery Gergiev and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, he joins now their forces as solo bass trombonist. He plays regularly with the Netherlands Wind Ensemble and the Dutch Jazz Orchestra and is also active in the free lance world.

He played with the Dutch Brass Sextet for fourteen years: founded in 1978, this group became one of the most prestigious brass-ensembles in Europe.

After being professor at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam he also changed schools in September 1998 and teaches now at the Rotterdam Conservatory.

He was invited as teacher and soloist to the International Trombone Festival in Detmold in 1992, the ITF in Cleveland in 1994, the Budapest International Brass Festival in 1996 and the Rencontres Internationales de Cuivre in Lille (France) in 1997. Also in 1997 he performed as soloist with the Brandenburger Symphoniker in a program with bass and baritone arias from Russian and Italian operas transcribed for bass trombone. In Feb. 1998 Ben made a two weeks master classes and recitals tour visiting some important Universities in the USA like, Julliard School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Rice University and University of North Texas. The leading trombonists of the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Symphony and the Houston Symphony invited him for this tour.

In March 1999, Ben coached the brass-section of the Spanish Youth Orchestra in a program with music from Spanish- and LatinAmerican composers.

In August 1999 Ben gave a 2 week masterclass in Korea and he returned to Seoul in August 2000
this time together with Mr. Chang Jun-Hwa, professor at the Yonsei University in Seoul. In July 2000 Ben was facultystaff-member of the ITF 2000 in Utrecht and during this event he released his first solo CD "Nana". At the end of April/ begin of May 2000 he will give a masterclass at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester

Ben has been president of the Internationale Posaunen Vereinigung from 1995 untill 1998 and was a member of the board of advisors of the International Trombone Association.

From: International Trombone Association Honorary Life Members