Robbert van Hulzen
Drummer & percussionist Robbert van Hulzen enjoys playing in the colourful twilight between improvised, contemporary composed, Indian, and Indonesian music. Besides Ensemble Gending he works & worked with a variety of projects including psychedelic klezmer band Trepid, the Indian chamberjazz trio oto.3, dancer Michael Jahoda’s Phillip Project , composer/producer Nitin Sawhney and the abstract folk duo Rara Avis with recorder player Terri Hron.
In 2012 he started the ongoing project Elephant Songs creating new music with musicians from various backgrounds. Projects include the 2009 band Om Viloma] and a journey from India to the on an old motorcycle loaded with drums in 2012.
Van Hulzen studied drums and later South Indian concepts with MT Rajakesari and BC Manjunath (in Bangalore, India) and Rafael Reina (Amsterdam). He holds MA degrees from the Conservatory of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam University.
Ronald Boumans
After studying classical percussion in Rotterdam, he studied a wide range of non-western instruments and styles like Latin and African percussion, Indian tabla and the Indonesian Gamelan. He works as a freelance percussionist in various classical and contemporary orchestras and ensembles. As a member of theatre group Circle Percussion he is specialized in playing the Taiko (Japanese drums).
Next to his performing activities, Ronald is also a teacher for all levels and ages, a workshop leader and leader / conductor of amateur percussion groups.
Oscar Alblas
Studied classical percussion, drums and African percussion at the conservatory in Rotterdam (part of Codarts Rotterdam), and immersed himself in the world of electronic percussion as well after obtaining his bachelor degree. Alongside ensemble Gending, Oscar works with a variety of other ensembles and bands, including the experimental rock band Kong (www.kong.nl), singer-songwriter Fabian Schrama (www.fabianmusic.com), and the French-themed quartet Solune. He also regularly composes music for choreographer Pauline Elvira (www.paulineelvira.co.nr).
As a freelance musician, Oscar has performed with the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Holland Symfonia, dance company Conny Janssen Danst, theater company Onafhankelijk Toneel, and the musical ‘Kruimeltje’, among others. Further more, he has been a percussion teacher for years, and currently teaches at Stichting Kunstzinnige Vorming Rotterdam.
More info on Oscar can be found at www.oscaralblas.nl.
Jonás Bisquert
Obtained his Classical Piano diploma at the conservatory of Madrid, combining jazz studies, ethnomusicology and analytical research.
He achieved his Bachelor in Composition at the conservatory of Utrecht, pursuing a Master in Composition with specialization in Advanced Rhythm at the conservatory of Amsterdam.
Active as a composer, he creates music for various settings, ranging from trumpet solo to string orchestra, including opera, contemporary percussion, gamelan, etc.
He has composed for Nieuw Ensemble, Aurelia Saxophone Quartet, Neopercusión, Ensemble Multifoon, Orkest de Volharding, Ensemble Gending, amongst others.
Fields of focus:
- Music drama, composing and leading educational programs.
- Javanese gamelan
- Advanced Rhythm, Carnatic Music (South India), teaching at the conservatory of Amsterdam and lecturing elsewhere Flamenco
- Moderation of debates