Articles

2012-13 recording sessions New solo CD with Brass Band

2013-04-03T14:18:00Z

Done, happy, for sure for me a milestone. Great new repertoire for basstrombone & Brass Band by Steven Verhelst. Amsterdam Staff Band in top-shape. Martin Van Den Berg made an amazing sound so now up to the editing-process! Release September-October 2013!...(read more)

Change of Facebook

2011-05-01T09:43:00Z

Change of Facebook!...(read more)

Dutch Bass Trombone Open 2010

2010-10-14T15:22:00Z

A short impression of the third edition of the Dutch Bass Trombone Open. See the pictures!!...(read more)

New line of mutes!!!

2009-03-12T18:28:00Z

A new line of great mutes for the tenor, bass and contrabass trombone.   ...(read more)

Winner ITA 2009 Emory Remington trombone ensemble competition

2009-02-14T12:21:00Z

Yesterday we received the news that our Rotterdam CODARTS Conservatory trombone-class is the winner of this years ITA Emory Remington trombone ensemble Competition

The full class with Ben after their Febr-2009 Enschede concert.

We teachers, Jörgen van Rijen, Pierre Volders and I, Ben van Dijk are very proud of this success and like to congratulate our students with this wonderful result.
It is the second time in our history that we participate in this competition and both times we came out as winner.

We hope to see you in Arhus at the ITF 2009 when we will receive the prize and of course will play a concert.

Greetings,

Ben van Dijk

Winner:

Codarts Trombone Ensemble, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Pierre Volders, Jörgen van Rijen, and Ben van Dijk, conductors

Runner-up
LSU Trombone Choir, Louisiana State University
Jeannie Little, conductor

Honorable Mention (in alphabetical order):
Baylor University Trombone Choir
Brent Phillips, conductor

Eastman Trombone Choir, Eastman School of Music
John Marcellus, conductor
McGill University Trombone Choir
David Russell Martin, conductor

Northwestern University Trombone Choir
Pete Ellefson, conductor

Trombonly, Musikhochschule, Detmold, Germany
David Bruchez, conductor

RAM Trombone Choir, Royal Academy of Music-London
Bob Hughes, conductor

RNCM Trombone Choir, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, England
Christopher Houlding, conductor

The class in action in "Scherzo Funebre" by Derek Bourgouis.

Judges:

Per Brevig, Principal trombonist, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (retired)
Paul Compton, Trombone professor, Oklahoma State University
Jay Friedman, Principal trombonist, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Second Dutch Basstrombone Open success!

2008-10-29T08:39:00Z

These photo's were taken during the second version of the DUTCH BASS TROMBONE OPEN 2008.

Some 45 bass trombonists came together and had 3 super days in Oegstgeest-Holland.

Organised by Marcel Schot, Bert Damsma and Erwin Dijkstra and this year with Faculty-staff members.

Doug Yeo - Boston Symphony Orchestra
Phil Teele - Hollywood Studio musician
Ben van Dijk - (basstrombone artist in residence) Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra

Location: Oegstgeest - Holland

Piet van Dijk Passes Away

2003-02-28T10:31:00Z

Piet van Dijk, former solo trombonist of the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy and the "The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra", passed away February 6, 2003, in The Hague, The Netherlands at the age of 82.

Piet van Dijk 1920-2003

Van Dijk joined the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1945 as solo trombonist

Piet van Dijk as soloist with the
Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy in
New York/Rockefeller Center, 1955

and achieved the rank of Major before he went to the The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra as their solo-trombonist in 1957.

Piet van Dijk during World War II

He played there until his retirement in 1982. Van Dijk played under well known conductors such as Antal Dorati, Otto Klemperer, Leonard Bernstein, Carlo Maria Giulini, Pierre Boulez, Claudio Abbado, Karl Boemm and many more. He received many compliments and positive reviews for his natural phrasing and beautiful sound on both the tenor-trombone and the tenor-tuba.

Joop Hellemond, Piet van Dijk, Frans Sanders en Bas Dekker

One of the major highlights in his flamboyant career was the performances of the big trombone solo in Mahler's 3rd Symphony in 1960 under Willem van Otterloo. He was the first to perform this Symphony in Holland after the Second World War and received many compliments in the reviews of these concerts.

Piet van Dijk with the "Hague Philharmonic Orchestra" in the time
of Mahler's third symphony performances.

With both orchestras he made numerous international tours around the world, among them were three big USA tours in 1953, 1962 and 1968.

His son, Ben van Dijk, remembers his father as a real family man who loved his wife, children and grandchildren. Next to his family, the trombone was the most important thing in his life. After his retirement van Dijk kept playing the trombone only for the joy it gave him and the duet-sessions he had with his friend who is also named Piet van Dijk and his son, Ben.
Ben will never forget all the hours of conversation they had about everything that had to do with music. The musical skills of Piet van Dijk had great influence on Ben's career. The beautiful singing legato style and sense for a most natural phrasing will be in his mind
forever.

Piet van Dijk in "de Koperen Knopen Band"

Ben wishes to thank all the members of the ITA for giving him the ITA 2003 Award, something what made his father so very happy and proud in his last days in this life.

2003 ITA Award

2003-02-27T10:26:00Z

Ben van Dijk Wins 2003 ITA Award

In recognition of his contributions to the ITA and to the trombone community at large, it is with great pleasure that I announce that Ben Van Dijk is 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.
On behalf of the officers and members of the ITA, I would like to extend to Ben a hearty thank you and congratulations.

Nathaniel Brickens ITA President