Gregory van der Struik
Resume
Gregory van der Struik currently enjoys a busy career as an orchestral and solo trombonist. He has held the position of Principal Trombone with the Opera Australia Orchestra since 1987 and has been active as a soloist and composer in Australia, China and Europe. He studied trombone with Geoffrey Bailey and Arthur Hubbard at the Sydney Conservatorium High School and graduated as an Associate of the State Conservatorium of Music (A.S.C.M.). Prior to his appointment as Principal Trombone, he undertook extensive freelance engagements with professional orchestras as well as holding Principal positions in the A.B.C. Sinfonia (which he conducted in the Opera House), the Australian Youth Orchestra and the Sydney Youth Orchestra.
As a soloist, Greg has released and been featured on a number of CDs which emanate from the Trombonis Australis Project, initiated in 1990 to develop and present an Australian contribution to international brass repertoire. He has performed in Australia, Europe and Asia with ensembles such as the Orchestre de Picardie, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Royal Australian Air Force Air Command Band, Orchestre de Cuivres d’Amiens, Orchestre à Vent de Doullens, Le Brass Band Nord Pas de Calais, Gouds Symfonie Orkest, University of Newcastle Wind Orchestra and the Sydney Youth Orchestra. Greg has also addressed international conferences in Europe with respect to the development of Australian repertoire for brass and has also been the author of numerous articles for journals in Australia and overseas. He has been active as an adjudicator at many competitions and has been described by international trombonist and composer John Kenny "as one of the most interesting trombonists pushing for increased recognition of the trombone anywhere."
Greg is a part time member of the Sydney Conservatorium’s Brass Faculty. He has given master classes in Australia and overseas including a period in 1998 as guest lecturer in trombone at the Shanghai Conservatory and later that year, Acting Head of Brass at the Sydney Conservatorium. Greg has been a founding member of the Early Brass Consort of Sydney and has been active in promoting Opera Australia Brass, which included a highly successful concert tour of China. His compositions have been performed in Australia and overseas at various international festivals by leading local and international performers. A recent work, Undercurrents, a new work for 10 trumpets commissioned by the International Trumpet Guild will be premiered later this year at their International Conference in the United States in May 2020.