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Ben on Tour

Muro - 2004


Fourth “Summer Trombone Course” held at the “Escola Regional of Music of the Comtat” in the town “ Muro of Alcoy" in the Alicante region (Spain).


Javier Colomer, Ben van Dijk and Jörgen van Reijen.
This year’s trombone summer-course, the fourth in row held in Muro de Alcoy, was a big success. Javier Colomer, organizer of this summer course and Head of Studies of the‘Escuela Comarcal de Música del Comtat’, can look back on a very attractive well attended event. More then 29 participants joined the class; 12 tenor trombones worked with Jòrgen van Reijen(principal of the Royal Concergebouw Orchestra), 11 bass trombones worked with Ben van Dijk(bass trombonist of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra) and 6 youngsters worked with Javier Colomer.

Jörgen van Reijen and the tenortrombone participants.

Ben van Dijk and this years bass trombone participants.
The general level of the participants is growing every year which makes the course more attractive every new edition. This year there were more professional players then the previous years and the students from different conservatories that participated were overall very talented. Besides the many Spanish, this year there were also American, French, Austrian, Iceland and Portuguese players in the class and this gave an extra dimension to the week.

Javier Colomer with his trombone student’s quartet.
Every day was started with a tutti warm-up session with either Jòrgen van Reijen or Ben van Dijk. Both worked on breathing exercises and daily routines and after a short break they continued with individual lessons in different rooms. Every student had two 45 minute lessons with the coaches; most participants listened to these sessions when they were free and had a good change to absorb all the given tips in a relaxed way.

A good warm up includes mouthpiece buzzing.
After the wonderful tutti lunch and very necessary “Siesta” the individual lessons continued; after that time for ensemble playing under Jòrgen van Reijen or Ben van Dijk. Because of the good average level it was possible to play some more difficult repertoire like Eric Ewazen’s “Posaunenstadt” but also the wonderful “Ave Maria” by Anton Bruckner sounded, because of this level, really wonderful.

Jörgen van Reijen conducting this years trombone ensemble.
This year there were exhibitions of some different brands of trombones like Courtois, Conn and Thein. Good to see was the friendly atmosphere between the representatives of these different instrument builders. Max Thein was the only one from outside of Spain and also he was the only real maker of his instruments. The others are Spanish distributors of Courtois and Conn.

Testing instruments is always an important part of the course.
Thursday brought a welcome interlude to the course with the visit of 4 lovely ladies, the wonderful quartet from England, “Bones Apart” . In the afternoon they gave a clinic in which they introduced themselves with both music and text and they coached the Young Trombone Quartet led by Javier Colomer. Quit interesting to see them work with these youngsters, especially the way they showed them to listen more to each other was very interesting for all participants of the summer course.

“Bones Apart” afternoon concert.
The evening brought the ladies back on stage but this time for a full concert. Although the concert- hall had a very dry acoustic the quartet showed their incredible talent. The ensemble playing of this quartet is on a high level and their presentation is original and very entertaining. The repertoire was divers from Beethoven’s “Drei Equalen” to a free-style Jazzy arrangement of “My Funny Valentine” starting with Carol Jarvis improvising on the theme. “Bones Apart” were greeted with much enthusiasm and appreciation from students, parents and educators alike. They are an attractive, entertaining and energetic ensemble and their music-making is educationally valuable and accessible ... their audience had a wonderful time.
Congrats to the members of the quartet for their fine playing and obvious commitment to the instrument we all love. I give them my highest recommendation

“Bones Apart” have a good time with the faculty staff and Jacques Mauger.
After the concert of “Bones Apart” there was a short encounter with Jacques Mauger who just started his summer course on that day. A good Spanish beer gave some refreshment and then it was of for an other Spanish Tapas session at “Conte” in Concentaina. A good night rest was on it place but the ladies dragged both Jòrgen and Ben with almost all participants of the course into the local disco. Fiesta time!

A well deserved lunch together with all participants.
The last day of the course started with a warm up session led by Ben. In the night a man in the morning a man is what he showed. During the breathing exercises some of the students had obvious problems but like Ben they were all there and made the best of it. The last morning private lessons and of it was, to the now really needed Siesta.

One of the warm-up sessions given by Ben van Dijk.

Both Jörgen and Ben were quit empty at the end of this wonderful event.
The last evening started with a concert by the ensemble made up of the courses participants. Conducted by Jòrgen and Ben the students showed their gained knowledge and skills from the week. 24 trombonists in Ewazen’s “Posaunenstadt” is really quit impressive and the public was very enthusiastic. Ben van Dijk performed Tommy Pederson’s “Blue Topaz” for bass trombone solo and 6 part trombone ensemble with some of the best players of the week and Jòrgen van Reijen on lead trombone. Great fun!

Tommy Pederson’s Blue Topaz with Ben van Dijk on solo bass trombone
and Jörgen van Reijen on lead in the ensemble.
During the course there was a great ambiance and many new friendships were made. It is clear that next year there will be a fifth version of this interesting course and almost all participants made it clear the like to return.

This compilation speaks for itself. Great fun in Moro!
Gracias Javier Colomer y asta el proximo ano.
This years participants were:
Students of Escola Comarcal de Musica del Comtat
Teresa Caballer Llorens 
Daniel Quiles Cascant
Angel Ridrigo Cascant
Octavio Montava Marin
Alexis Reig Domenech

Bass Trombonist
Juan Luis Bori Zanon (Buñol- Spain)
Johannes Mader (Germany)
Miguel Jose Martínez Martinez (Biar- Spain)
Jaime Moscardó Tudela ( Beniganim-Spain)
Gonçalo Oliveira Dias (Portugal)
Raphael Patrix (France)
Hector Jesus Sanchez Prieto ( Madrid- Spain)
Petur Eirickson (Iceland - Bass Trombone Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia)
Sean Philip Engel (USA- Bass Trombone Orquesta Sinfonica de Castilla y León)
Paco Gillem ( Madrid- Spain- Bass Trombone Orquesta Nacional de España)
Carlos Soto Sobrado (Lalín-Galicia –Spain, Teatcher in Conservatorium of Lalin)

Tenor Trombonist
Abel Clemente Riera ( Buñol-Spain)
Daniel Ferreira Dias (Portugal)
Jesús Escudero Ubeda (Albaida-Spain)
Isabel Garcia Bataller (Olleria- Spain)
Jaume Gavilán Agulló (Cocentaina-Spain)
Nuno Henriques (Portugal)
Manuel Antonio Martins Vieira (Portugal)
Cesar Miguel Martin (Valladolid- Spain)
Eusebio Saez March (Buñol- Spain)
Isaac Sanabria Vañó (Olleria- Spain)
Silva Ghisleni ( Italy)
Juan Francisco Vallejo Bernabeu (Castalla- Spain)
Jordi Navarro ( Bañeres- Spain and 2nd Trombone Orquesta Sinfonica de Oviedo)
Ben van Dijk

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Bass trombonist of the Rotterdam Conservatory "Codarts" Ben is professor at the Rotterdam Conservatory "Codarts. He plays exclusively "Thein" tenor-bass and contrabass trombones.
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