Raaij, Marcel van
Biography
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Marcel van Raaij started his musical career at the age of 10 with the 'Rijnmondband' in Schiedam as a drummer. After studying percussion at the regional music school Nieuwe Waterweg Noord, he was hired in 1983 by Marcel van Raaij at the Rotterdam Conservatory to train as a percussionist. However, Marcel chose to study biology at university and music initially remained a hobby.
After a period of percussion, Marcel started playing the euphonium. Already at the age of 17 he became an instructor of the melody-percussion band “Ambrosius” in Schiedam and not much later he became a percussion instructor with the “Wapen van Maassluis”. After a few years he was later appointed as conductor of the “Wapen van Maassluis”; an association to which he has been associated for a total of 16 years. Under his leadership, both associations have been promoted in two departments at competitions. In 1985 he was awarded the diploma “General Drum Band Instructor” from the BVO with honors.
In 1991, the Wind Band Conducting course was started through the Conductor Education Institute. The main subject teacher of conducting was Jos van der Sijde. In 1998, the final diploma in Wind Band Conducting was obtained with the cooperation of the symphonic wind orchestra NLS in Klaaswaal. In addition to the above-mentioned associations, Marcel van Raaij led various brass ensembles, a wind band and percussion ensembles. Since the beginning of 1997, Marcel van Raaij has been the conductor of the orchestra “Kunst Na Arbeid” in Maassluis and since May 1999 he has also been the conductor of the “Rijnmondband” from Schiedam, where he has also been in charge of the show instruction for some time.
Marcel is self-taught as a composer. He has written various works for lyre and mallet corps, some of which have been published. He has mainly composed marches for drum fanfare, but also light music and concert works. In addition to writing compositions, Marcel is active as an arranger, in particular as a creative brain for various show programs. He also writes choreography for shows together with others and was a member of a national working group “Drum Fanfare” of the BVO.
Works for Percussion
A Small Latino - Percussion 16
Dance of the Magyars - Percussion 12
References