Wilhelm Groenendijk
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Wilhelm Groenendijk was born in Capelle aan den IJssel in 1978. From a very young age he was interested in music and especially for the trumpet as an instrument. "As a child of 2 years old, I was already fascinated by the sound of brass instruments. Only LPs with trumpet music by the Brouwer brothers, the Marine Band and other trumpet players fascinated me and I could listen to them for hours". From the age of 7 he received music lessons through the Capelse Music School. He then studied with Chris Jobse and Cees Trappenburg, after playing the trombone for the first 2 years. The sound and playing of the trumpet is and remained the instrument of my dreams.
Playing at a young age (12 years) at a singing evening in church was the beginning of my musical career. He has been working with various musicians for many years.
Wilhelm: 'In my daily life, I work for a large financial institution. In addition, music is a hobby and passion. Making music together is very satisfying'. As conductor of the Youth Choir 'Laudate Deum' from Ridderkerk and as rehearsal director of the Dutch Youth Choir, he is also involved in music in a different way than playing a solo instrument. Conducting is also a social event: you are working with a group of people and not individually with just your own instrument. This variety is a very pleasant activity. He also had organ lessons from Mr. Dick den Engelsman for many years. Playing the organ made it easier for him to write music for choir, organ/piano and trumpet. All the diversity of conducting, playing organ/piano and trumpet in addition to composing choir, organ and trumpet music, is a welcome change as a hobby.
Pleasant things about making music are the concerts and concert tours. In recent years he has made various music and concert tours to England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, France, Denmark and Israel. "It's not just the big concerts that are just beautiful and challenging. I also really enjoy small, intimate concerts or singing in a home with one of the choirs. My motto is and remains: making something beautiful out of it together with the talents you have been given. That's my goal."
Finally, a word about playing the trumpet. People often ask: 'How can you produce all those tones with three buttons'. The trumpet is nothing more than a long coiled brass tube with a mouthpiece at the beginning, three valves in the middle and a bell at the end. To get sound out of it, tighten the lips (smile a little) and put them on the mouthpiece. Blowing causes your lips to vibrate (buzz) and a tone is created. By tightening and loosening your lips and pressing the three valves, you can play up to 31 different tones!
