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Ben on Tour

USA 1998

ITA journal
Vol. 26 1998
BEN VAN DIJK COMPLETES
 SUCCESSFUL U.S. TOUR

Ben van Dyk, bass trombonist of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, toured several U.S. cities February 3-14, 1998, giving recitals and/ or master classes at six universities.
His tour began in New York, where he played a recital at the Juilliard School of Music. The performance included the world premiere of Nick Woud's Dances for tenor and bass trombone, performed by Joseph Alessi and van Dyk. While in New York, he also met with the New York Philharmonic low brass section to demonstrate the contrabass trombone in excerpts from Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen.

Cleveland, OH, was the next stop, at the invitation of Steve Witser and Ray Premru. A special concert was planned at Oberlin College, where van Dyk performed the Woud Serenade and Dances; Tommy Pederson's Blue Topaz, and another demonstration of the contrabass trombone, this time with the Cleveland Orchestra low brass. This evening was an emotional one, in that it marked the return of Ray Premru.

From Oberlin, the trip continued to Bowling Green State University where he performed at the invitation of Paul Hunt. This time Paul Hunt was the other performer on Woud's Dances.

From Ohio, it was now time to fly to Texas for appearances at the University of North Texas in Denton, and at Rice University in Houston. At UNT, van Dyk worked with the students of Vern Kagarice and Royce Lumpkin, and performed the same recital material, this time with student John Allen.

Rice University was the final university appearance of the tour, thanks to the invitation of Houston Symphony bass trombonist David Waters. Waters joined two Rice students to participate in some orchestral excerpt playing.

The return flight to Holland included an overnight stop in Chicago, where there was one last chance to play more excerpts - this time with the Chicago Symphony low brass players.

Heinrich Thein, one of the creators of the beautiful  Max& Heinrich Thein trombone line, sponsored Van Dyk's tour. At each university, Thein gave a short lecture on the history of our instrument and the changes in development of the trombone in the past 1000 years.
The tour was so successful that plans are already underway for a return trip. Tour details were co-ordinated by Vern Kagarice, who has known van Dyk's work from his many visits to Holland.

Text : Randy Compora

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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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