These are the current teachers of the Rotterdam Conservatory Trombone Class:
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Pierre Volders (classical tenortrombone) Pierre Volders was born on May 2nd 1972 in Breda, The Netherlands. At the age of six he became a member of the local musical society St. Joris in Dorst. He began his musical studies on the euphonium with Michael Wolding, six years later Pierre commenced trombone lessons from Michael. In 1990, he went to the Rotterdam School of Music to study trombone with George Wiegel. He followed masterclasses of Michel Bequet, Victor Sumerkin, Bart van Lier and Philip Jones. Pierre is a founding member of the Rotterdam Trombone Quartet that reached the final of the prestigious Concert Artists Guild in New York. During this time with the quartet he also recorded his first CD called “Dioscuri”. During his studies Pierre was appointed principal trombonist of the Nederlands Ballet Orkest (Dutch Ballet Orchestra), two years later he was appointed principal trombonist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also a member of the New Trombone Collective and The Rotterdam Philharmonic Brass Ensemble. In 1998 Pierre graduated cum-laude from the Rotterdam Conservatory and in that same year was employed as a professor at the conservatory, together with George Wiegel and Jörgen van Rijen he leads the trombone department. Pierre studied Wind Band Conducting with Jaap Koops, Arie van Beek and Jos van de Sijde. In 1999 he graduated and received the Grand Diploma for conducting Brass Bands with the Band of the Royal Marines. |
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Ben van Dijk (classical basstrombone) 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 earned his Solo Diploma in trombone cum laude in 1980 at the Royal
Conservatory in The Hague. In 1976, he was appointed to the bass trombone position in the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
He continued to study with Jeff Reynolds and Roger Bobo in Los Angeles.
After 23 years with the N.R.P.O., Ben joined the Rotterdam Philharmonic as solo bass trombonist. He has also played for more then 15 years with the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, and is still active as bass trombonist in the Dutch Jazz Orchestra. He has also played with the Dutch Brass Sextet for fourteen years.
Ben is Professor at the Rotterdam Conservatory “Codarts” and the Royal College of Music in Manchester.
He was invited as teacher and soloist to the International Trombone Festivals in Detmold-Germany-1992, in Cleveland-1994, in Utrecht-Holland-2000, in DentonUSA-2002 and in Birmingham-UK- 2006.
In Feb. 1998 Ben spent two weeks giving master classes and recitals in the USA. At the invitation of leading trombonists from the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Houston Symphony, he visited such notable institutions as the Julliard School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Rice University and University of North Texas.
Ben has also given master classes and recitals in Korea, Japan, Greece, Hungary, Sweden, England, Scotland, France, Spain, Venezuela, Peru and many other countries.
He has released three solo CD's, “Nana”, "First Song" and “Melody” which all
received praising reviews around the world.
Ben’s method for bass and tenor trombone with F attachment, “Ben’s Basics”, was released July 2004, has received high recognition and is sold around the world.
In recognition of his contributions to the ITA and to the trombone community at large Ben van Dijk was the recipient of the 2003 ITA Award. This award is the ITA's most prestigious citation and it recognizes Ben's artistic achievements and his tireless efforts in promoting and improving global trombone performance standards, brass pedagogy, and instrument design.
Ben plays exclusively Max & Heinrich Thein trombones.
More information available at: www.basstrombone.nl |
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Remko de Jager (didactics / technique for jazz department) Remko de Jager was born on October 23rd 1971 in Heeg in Dutch Friesland. At the age of 9 he began taking cornet and euphonium lessons with Tseard Verbeek and 2 years later switched to the trombone and studied with Rene Kuitert and Jilt Jansma. In 1990 he started his studies at the Conservatory of Rotterdam with George Wiegel and completed his master's degree cum laude in 1998. During his studies he played with the Frysk Fanfare Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra. In 1992 he won 1st prize at a competition of the organization Young Music Talent of the Netherlands and in 1994 a 3rd place at an international trombone competition in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. He followed masterclasses with Michel Becquet, Bart van Lier and Victor Sumerkin. As a member of the Rotterdam Trombone Quartet he reached the finals at the prestigious Concert Artists Guild competition in New York and played on the CD “Dioscuri” which was recorded especially for this event. Since 1997 Remko has been a trombonist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra where he performed as a soloist in the double concert for horn and alt trombone from Michael Haydn. In addition to the orchestra, Remko plays in various ensembles including Doelen Ensemble, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, Rotterdam Philharmonic Brass and the New Trombone Collective. He also performs as a soloist. Since September 2000 he has held his position at the Conservatory of Rotterdam. |
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Bart van Lier (jazz trombone) Bart van Lier has been a member of the Tony Nolte TV Orchestra, the Netherlands Jazz Orchestra and Slide Hampton's four trombone group, to name a few and today he still plays with Peter Herbholzheimer Big Band and Nueva Manteca. He was appointed first trombonist and soloist of the Metropole Orchestra in 1992, and since 1990 has been leading his own groups Bart's Bones and Trio Bart van Lier. In 1998 the Bart van Lier - Ilja Reijngoud quintet was founded. Noteworthy recordings are First Brass, Bart's Bones, and his solo album with the Metropole Orchestra, Twighlight. Bart has been teaching at the Hilversum Conservatory as well as the hague Conservatory. He has a post at the Rotterdam Conservatory since 1998. He performed on several International Trombone Festivals and has given workshops in Europe and in the US and published a book "Coordination Training Program for Trombone Playing". |
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Ilja Reijngoud (jazz trombone) Ilja is winner of the Thelonious Monk Award 2003 , Deloitte Stimulus Award 2003 and Singer Laren Jazz Award 2004 . After his cum laude graduation at the Hilversum Conservatory in 1996, Ilja taught the trombone there. In 1997 he was the second Dutch student so far to receive the American Degree 'Master of Music.' In 1998 Ilja and his former teacher Bart van Lier founded a dynamic trombone department at the Rotterdam Conservatory. Besides this Ilja is main teacher at the Arnhem Conservatory (Artez). In recent years Ilja taught clinics and workshops in Europe and abroad (Los Angeles, Liechtenstein, Amsterdam and New Orleans). Warwick Music, England, publishes some of his compositions and arrangements. Ilja is member of the Dutch Jazz Orchestra, The Ilja Reijngoud/Bart van Lier Quintet, The Houdini's, The Cubop City Big Band, Nueva Manteca, The Brussels Jazz Orchestra and many other European groups. Ilja worked and recorded with Pat Metheny, Maria Schneider, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Holman, Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Clark Terry, George Coleman, Kenny Werner, Monty Alexander, Dori Caymmi, Michael Davis, Vince Mendoza, Greetje Kauffeld, Bill Reichenbach, Ed Neumeister, Louis van Dijk, Lester Bowie, Tom Harrell , Jerry van Rooyen, Rita Reys, Jasper van `t Hof, Phillip Catherine, David Liebman, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Nancy Marano, Bert Joris and many others. You can visit Ilja's own website at: www.iljareijngoud.com |








