Principal trombonist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Jörgen van Rijen is also much in demand as a soloist. He has performed in recitals and as a soloist with orchestras all over the world, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Taiwan Phiharmonic and the Nagoya Philharmonic.

Jörgen was awarded the Netherlands Music Prize, the highest distinction in the field of music by the Dutch Ministry of Culture. He also received the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, which is presented yearly to a selection of the most promising and talented young international soloists and ensembles. Besides that he won first prizes at the international trombone competitions of Toulon and Guebwiller.

Music magazine ‘Gramophone’ wrote about Jörgen: ‘…his virtuosic technique need fear no comparison with the best in his field.’ and the London Times wrote: ‘…he performed with such subtlety too…van Rijen turned the trombone into a fount of melodic grace’.

Jörgen teaches at the Amsterdam Conservatory and has been appointed International Visiting Professor at the Royal Academy of Music, London. He is also an active chamber musician in ensembles like the New Trombone Collective and the RCO Brass.

Jörgen plays exclusively on instruments built by Antoine Courtois.