JOHAN DE MEIJ

Johan de Meij

Johan de Meij is an internationally recognized composer and arranger whose oeuvre comprises original compositions, symphonic transcriptions and arrangements of film music and musicals. De Meij is also a trombonist and guest teacher. He has performed as a trombonist with the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, the Netherlands Philhamonic Orchestra, the ...
Full biography

Instruments

componist, trombone

Biography Johan de Meij

Johan de Meij is an internationally recognized composer and arranger whose oeuvre comprises original compositions, symphonic transcriptions and arrangements of film music and musicals. De Meij is also a trombonist and guest teacher. He has performed as a trombonist with the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, the Netherlands Philhamonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, the Amsterdam Wind Orchestra, and Orkest de Volharding. De Meij established his own publishing company to publish his work.

Played in

Orkest de Volharding   trombone

1953

Johan de Meij is born in Voorburg on November 23.

1968

He begins playing as a trombonist with the Hadriani Hamony Forum in Voorburg. He studies with Anner Bijlsma senior and Pieter van Dijk (trombone and euphonium).

1976 - 1977

He performs his obligatory military service playing in the Trumpet Corps of the Cavalry in Amersfoort. Upon leaving the military, he plays the euphonium in the Amsterdam Police Chapel, conducted by Karel Kokelaar. The arrangements he makes are soon used by other brass and concert bands. Through an acquaintance at a music publisher, he receives his first commissions to make arrangements for brass and concert bands.

1978 - 1984

De Meij attends the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, studying the trombone with Arthur Moore (trombone soloist with The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra) and brass and concert band conducting with Rocus van Yperen (from 1979, with Jan van Ossenbruggen).

1988 - 1989

'Symphony No. 1, The Lord of the Rings' (1987), based on J.R. Tolkien's bestseller, is premiered in Brussels on March 15 by the Groot Harmonieorkest van de Gidsen, conducted by Norbert Nozy. The following year, the piece receives the prestigious Sudler Composition Award in Chicago. It later becomes popular in a CD performance by the Royal Military Band, conducted by Pierre Kuypers.

1999

The cello concerto 'Casanova' wins first prize at the International Competition for Original Band Composition in Corciano, Italy.

2000

'The Red Tower', the second movement of 'The Venetian Collection', for concert band – completed in 2002 – is awarded the Oman International Composition Prize.

2001

The symphony orchestra version of 'The Lord of the Rings' is premiered by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. More than 20 recordings of this work have appeared on CD in performances by, among others, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra.

2006

Symphony No. 3, 'Planet Earth', is premiered by the North Netherlands Orchestra. The music critic Frits van der Waa writes: “ [...] that is because it all sounds fantastic. From the electronic primeval-soup-with-thunder-storm heard at the fierce void at the beginning, all the way to the heroically pumping, resounding close, which lacks only a screen with closing credits rolling out. The music may move between art and kitsch, but there's no doubting that it's lucid – and De Meij is cunning enough to throw in a few nods to Louis Andriessen's De Staat along the way.” The concert band version of this symphony wins another award at Corsicano, second prize.

2007

In November, De Meij is awarded the Netherlands Wind Music Prize in recognition for his important role in the advancement of Dutch wind music over the years.

2009

On August 1, at the World Music Competition in Kerkrade, De Meij is named a Person of Merit by the Society of Friends of the WMC.

Photos Johan de Meij

Audio/Video Johan de Meij