Conservatoire says I’m too old to teach
OrchestrasBen van Dijk, former principal bass trombone of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, was born in 1955 in The Hague, where his father was solo trombone.
Ben, 68, is now a popular teacher at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague – but not for long. Read this:
To my great disappointment and frustration, I have to share this message with you.
Due to a sudden change in personnel policy, I have been informed that as of December 2025, because of age, I will no longer be able to teach at the Koninklijk Conservatorium – Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.
This is a forced decision and absolutely not my own wish.
For myself, this is very disappointing as I still want to share my expertise with young talents with great passion.
Also, the collaboration with my colleagues Sebastiaan Kemner and Dani Quiles Cascant gives me a lot of positive energy and inspiration.
Together, in a relatively short time, we have built a trombone class of international caliber, with our recent success being the runner-up position in the Remington competition of the International Trombone Association
It’s truly unfortunate that we’re being prevented from continuing as a team down this path.
The most frustrating aspect is that this also means I cannot fulfill the commitment I made with a number of young talented bass trombonists I started to work with last September.
This consequence of the school’s new direction is the most difficult for me to accept but because the school is allowed to do this, I can do nothing more than express my deepest dissatisfaction.
Fortunately, I can still work with my students for another year and a half, and we have agreed to make it a great time together.
Unfortunately, this also means that I will have to disappoint anyone interested in studying with me after 2025. I’m confident that a suitable successor will be found for me, and that the trombone class can continue its upward trajectory. Unfortunately, that will be without me.
UPDATE: In the UK this would constitute unlawful discrimination on grounds of age.
Honestly, if you’re over 70, don’t tie down a staff position. It’s a basic question of intergenerational justice. By all means, keep playing, giving masterclasses, guest teaching, participating in summer camps, ensemble coaching, freelancing. But really, do the part you enjoy – teaching, playing – and leave the full-time positions to others. It’s just a question of knowing yourself, your position in musical society, and when to retire with grace.
Yes, that holds for conductors too. Be Herbert Blomstedt, not Eschenbach or Barenboim.
What a bunch of gobbledegook.
“intergenerational justice?” Is this an April Fool’s joke?
the term “musical society” is an artificial construct, and totally open to interpretation. plus, it’s a privilege to study with a seasoned and expert professional artist, not a handicap.
Yes. And he doesn’t need to stop teaching. Retirement from a full-time staff position doesn’t mean ending all professional activities.
I was fortunate to study with some legendary teachers who were well beyond 65. The same goes for conductors. In fact, those are among my most memorable experiences and precious memories. Those giants were artists, not bus drivers or airline pilots.
Yes. And you can be an artist without holding a full-time staff position.
So many institutions have been harmed by people deemed unmovable staying on too long (Barenboim, Muti, Levine, Dale Clevenger, etc.).
Retire in good time with all the honours and continue teaching and playing. If anything, one can transmit experience and knowledge to more people as a freelance teacher with a diverse portfolio of activities, students, ensemble mentoring, masterclasses, guest courses, summer camps, etc.
It’s not a full-time staff position, for clarity’s sake
He is still active as a performing musician and his standards have not dropped – not entirely sure why you’re so eager to have him gone…
Hear hear! I said the exact same thing on Facebook and was treated for nazi and communist at the same time.
Ageism is everywhere, despite it being illegal here in the UK. There’s a pattern in the big four London orchestras now to squeeze out older players, even if they are still ” up to it”. Unfortunately, this hasn’t reached the national press as yet but a can of worms has been opened.
Yep. LSO principal violas Paul Silverthorne and Ed Vanderspar were compulsory retired at 67 (state pension age) one of the vacancies was eventually filled the other still empty….
And Germany has mandatory retirement for state employees – including musicians at 65.
This is no longer true. The compulsory age is now 66 and will gradually rise to 67 by 2031.
This isn’t true. The RPO and LPO no longer have a compulsory retirement age, and I understand it it is under discussion at the Philharmonia and LSO. As they aren’t employers (a whole other can of worms), it is simply a members agreement that players won’t stay beyond a certain age. There are examples of members ignoring this and staying beyond the ‘compulsory’ retirement age. Management, being employed, are not included in the agreement.
The BBC SO/CO, ROH, ENO, don’t have this as they employ their musicians and as such it would be illegal.
It is slightly tricky, as I believe it is agreed to on the basis that one’s playing might deteriorate with age, and the mechanism should uphold the highest artistic standards in orchestras with incredibly challenging schedules. However, certainly within my own orchestra, my favourite players are the ones closest to retirement, and there are other mechanisms to challenge players not keeping up their playing standard (regardless of age). With that said, young players coming through need their chance to work, and I don’t think we want a system where older players are holding on to seats in to their 80s and beyond. What are Mr van Dijk’s students studying for if they have no chance of employment?
You should take legal advice – perhaps from your/a union. I understand that the law in the Netherlands forbids all work-related discrimination, both direct and indirect based on age.
Your commitment to your calling and your loyalty to your students is admirable. Don’t despair and good luck!
Former bass trombonist actually
The same thing happened with my mentor at the Hochschule in Cologne. He wasn’t allowed to continue teaching due to his age, also 68 at the time of being informed. He taught a subject for which there was no adequate replacement – improvisation for singers. His classes were full and he was very popular with students because he was one of the few people who truly taught us to be artists. I don’t understand this age cut off, this is exactly what the older generation is there for, to pass on their wisdom.
Agreed.
Ben van Dijk is a world renowned name! Burocrats!!
It is sad. It happened to my teacher when I was still a student and the replacement teacher was just awful.
At the same time the reality is there aren’t enough jobs for everyone right now. I can’t recommend anyone go into this profession, and that’s sad too.
Stale, male and pale are out in the music business these days; quality and merit be damned.
Most likely another misleading title.
This regrettable situation is most likely to do with complex law around Dutch State pension age and extended employment contracts. After 48 months of extension after State Pension age a new, indefinite contract would have to be signed which may have adverse legal implications for the employer.
I believe there be a lawsuit if this were in USA. NO ONE escapes getting older so society needs to start accepting that fact!
He should set up a studio and teach privately
This isn’t often done in Europe. In the US, it is.
This is very sad. Ageism gets a much easier ride than almost any other -ism.
When I started my academic career aged 45, the induction course spelt out in no uncertain terms how racism, sexism and many other -isms were career-terminating events.
I was clearly the oldest in the intake and asked why ageism had been omitted. “We’re still working on that.”
9 years later, I moved to a US university and had a repeat performance.
Doesn’t the Netherlands have laws against age discrimination on the workplace? I guess it doesn’t since he mentioned that “the school is allowing to do this.” Just shocking. I wonder if there might be EU legislation applicable here.
He should seek legal action and start his own private studio, where current students will probably follow him.
Unbelievable. They should dance the street to have a trombonist with his caliber… Juilliard graduate trumpet player
He writes as though this must be the end of teaching for him.
He has a substantial reputation in the trombone sphere. What is to stop him from alighting at some other institution that is in need of a trombone teacher?
Or… hanging out a shingle and taking students privately?
These students might not be of the same caliber as those admitted to a conservatoire but… what is that to someone devoted to *teaching*?
Students are students; you do the best for each one that you can. Where they start from is not as important as how much farther you move them.
I’m sure he didn’t think of any of this and was waiting for a stranger on the internet to give him career advice. April Fools.
Perhaps he’s a human, not just a trombonist, and has a happy life in The Hague… he is from The Hague and, seemingly, earned his solo diploma from this institution. Maybe he doesn’t want to spend his time elsewhere. And maybe he cares about teaching his CURRENT students.
Truly a shame. The wisdom and knowledge that comes from a lifetime of teaching, performing and study is tossed on a whim to be replaced by someone that is likely younger, and less skilled.
What a shame! A star of the instrument who has had one of the great trombone studios for years. His legacy will live on, but what so disappointing for up and coming students!
Ben was principal bass trombone, a very different instrument to the tenor. If there was an instrument really in need of a champion, it’s the bass trombone, and Ben is that champion. There are great players around at the moment, but not all have a significant interest in teaching. Ben does, and I hope that he will be allowed to continue. At his age, many string and piano teachers are just warming up! Good luck Ben, and thanks for all that you do for this beautiful instrument.
He was bass trombone at the orchestra not principal. Many places have compulsory retirement at 70. Not much to discuss here. Just keep teaching private and at festivals as he always did.
He was Principal Bass Trombone – its an actual position that he got paid for and as described in his contract. Most Bass Trombonists in big orchestras are paid ‘principal’ wages because they are the only player and therefore principal. You speak in ignorance. On the main subject I would have thought the best players/teachers in the best position is best for everyone involved, students and employers. Ben is clearly the best for this job, age has nothing to do with it. Nothing.
If you truly want to continue teaching full-time, you should look at another conservatory where they have a more modern and wise personnel policy.
The Conservertoire might respond, with reasons. But if this is heading to a dispute, then we are unlikely to ascertain their reasons, and opinions without these are not particularly useful.
Why not just teach privately?Set up your own mini coservatoire?
And teach whom? Who will study privately with no degree attached? Of course, in the good old days, that’s how it was done. At most, you would get a diploma.
This is just attention seeking behavior. Everyone knows that the Netherlands has a retirement age, unless you have your own business or something. Same for conservatory teachers. In most cases, this is a good thing. Look at the USA, where there is no retirement age and some musicians keep going, not giving young musicians a chance and playing far under the level. Yes, Ben could still be teaching and inspiring, but not in a government funded institution that has a retirement age. It has nothing to do with ageism or anything like this. Ben should accept the fact he is retired and instead focus on his great legacy.
Indeed…i work and live in NL and am university professor: when your time is come for retirement you are out of the system: you can hang around (i they allow you) to keep doing some research and share your. knowledge, maybe give the occoasional guest lecture, but in general you are not going to teach and have no more decisional power. I am sure there are exceptions but this is what I have seen in my >15 working experience in the netherlands
Dear Henk???,
from your response, I understand that you haven’t quite grasped the intent of the message. The implementation of the new policies could, in my opinion, be approached differently, but that is ultimately up to the school.
What frustrates me the most is the lack of a decent transition arrangement for the students who are now affected by this.
Due to this stupid implementation, they suddenly get a new teacher after 2 years of study. It would have been decent of the school to at least give me the opportunity to guide these students until their bachelor’s exams.
This is the main reason for my frustration.
Ben
It is everything to do with age discrimination, and the success of ignorance over wisdom. It takes decades to become a great teacher. Standards are far too low as it is, technique rules over everything. Orchestras have no art or character anymore, and conductors are as dull as paste.
No one of us can’t work forever and I really hope that job / working is not the most important thing in our lifes.
If I would had think myself in age of 68 – I would definetly wait that when I can finally take rest and enjoying life / retirement days without working responsibilities and focusing to family (especially grandchildren) and hobbies.
In future Mr. van Dijk can easily teach / share his knowledge with social media posts, creating online courses in e.g. Zoom or Microsoft Teams etc. so it’s not always necessary hold (permanent) teaching position in music school.
Dear Dominique Meyer,
Dear Herbert Blomstedt,
Dear Virginia Zeani…
Pnina Salzman taught until she died, at 84. Fanny Waterman, at 100.
Compulsory retirement is the rule in Israel, for better or for worse not in the US.
Virginia Zeani passed away last year.
The most important factor is not age but effectiveness. An experienced teacher, giving his or her students skills to develop a professional career, is a valuable asset in any music department or conservatory and should be able to continue while he or she makes that important contribution.
exactly. no blanket rule is appropriate for each individual, and skilled teaching is a specialty that ought to be valued much more than it is. acquiring experience and wisdom as an artist takes time, and after a lifetime of performance experience, the role of a mentor benefits more students than one could count.
Get over it!
You’re keeping a well deserving younger person from progressing their career, too many old boys clinging to their pasts.
Bring in new blood the world has changed, techniques have changed. If an aspiring Bass Trombonist wants to learn from your experience they’ll find you.
Yeah, I thought so when I was young and frustrated. After ten years, I thought I knew everything. After ten more years I thought I knew everything. After thirty years I thought I really knew something. After 50 years I really know a lot, but I know how much more I don’t know. And guaranteed you don’t know much yet at all.
It’s the same agism here in the Netherlands for applying for performance jobs, my invitations to be allowed to participate at auditions stopped abruptly once I turned 40. It is impossible to submit an application without including your birthdate. But what can you do, they will just deny it if challenged?
Hopefully, he can teach privately. I’ve seen older teachers hired in Switzerland. But it is truly outrageous. My teacher was active well into her 90s, as was her closest competitor. Music training in Europe has turned into the young and blind leading the young and blind. Or blonde as the case may be. I’ve not heard of US conservatories having an age limit. Eleanor Sokoloff taught until she was 100! I guess someone needs to start a Senior Conservatory for all the older teachers, where the students can go after their inadequate conservatory training.
Enforced retirement because he is “too old”? Well what about Simon Rattle who is much the same age? Or Mark Elder and Jane Glover? This is squandering invaluable experience and expertise ! SHAMEFUL