Ben van Dijk - Private Lessons

Ben van Dijk
Bass & Tenor Trombone Faculty | The Global Conservatory

Ben van Dijk is one of the most influential trombone performers and educators of his generation, with over four decades of professional experience as an orchestral musician, soloist, recording artist, and conservatory professor. Based in the Netherlands, he is internationally recognized for his authority on bass trombone performance and pedagogy.

Ben earned his Solo Diploma cum laude in 1980 from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. In 1976, he was appointed Bass Trombonist of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held for 23 years. He later joined the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra as Bass Trombonist, where he continued his distinguished orchestral career at the highest international level.

Alongside his orchestral work, Ben has held teaching positions at major European conservatories, including the Conservatory of Amsterdam and Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam. He has been invited worldwide as a teacher and soloist at International Trombone Festivals in Detmold, Cleveland, Utrecht, Denton, Birmingham, and Austin, as well as for masterclasses and recitals across Europe, Asia, North and South America.

As a recording artist, Ben has released six solo albums, including Brisas Andaluzas (2018), a flamenco–jazz crossover project in which he performs both trombone and flamenco guitar on music composed by Ilja Reijngoud. His recordings reflect both technical mastery and artistic versatility across styles.

Ben’s contributions to the trombone community have been formally recognized by the International Trombone Association, awarding him the ITA Award in 2003 and the Neill Humfeld Award in 2017. In the same year, he was elected President of the International Trombone Association, serving a three-year term in the organization’s highest leadership role.

As an educator, Ben teaches Intermediate through Professional-level students, focusing on structured technical development, orchestral preparation, stylistic clarity, and long-term artistic growth. His teaching is rigorous, goal-oriented, and deeply informed by decades of top-level orchestral and solo performance.

With a career defined by excellence, leadership, and global impact, Ben van Dijk continues to shape generations of trombonists through uncompromising standards, musical depth, and a lifetime of professional achievement.