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 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.
Besides playing bass trombone Ben is virtuoso on the Flamenco guitar. Something he showed on his first solo CD "Nana" and he will also play on his upcoming Flamenco-Jazz CD in 2009.
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 Denton-USA-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.
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