Ilja Reijngoud Named BMI/Thelonious Monk Composers Competition Winner

Posted in News on May 6, 2003

BMI jazz composer and trombonist Ilja Reijngoud of Leiden, Holland has been named the winner of the 10th Annual BMI/Thelonious Monk Jazz Composers Competition for his work, "No Substitute." The $10,000 award was recently presented during the Thelonious Monk Institute's annual International Jazz Competition in Washington, DC. The award is given each year to the young, aspiring BMI composer who best demonstrates originality, creativity and excellence in jazz composition.

BMI/Thelonious Monk Institute Composers Competition grand prize winner Ilja Reijngoud (center) is congratulated by BMI executives Robbin Ahrold (left) and Jean Banks (right). Ahrold presented Reijngoud with the award and a check for $10,000.

Ilja, who began playing trombone at the age of 12, graduated cum laude from the Hilversum Conservatory in the Netherlands in 1996 and was later hired by the conservatory to teach. In 1998, Ilja and his former teacher Bart van Lier founded an exclusive trombone department at the Rotterdam Conservatory. In recent years, he has taught clinics and workshops throughout Europe, as well as in Los Angeles and New Orleans. He has appeared on more than 30 recordings with such jazz luminaries as Clark Terry, Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner, George Coleman, David Murray, Tom Harrell, and many others. Ilja is a member of the Dutch Jazz Orchestra, the Houdinis, the Cubop City Big Band, and other Dutch ensembles.

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Chairman Herbie Hancock (right) congratulates Composers Competition winner Ilja Reijngoud who received a $10,000 prize for is first-place composition "No Substitute"

Ilja Reijngoud (center) is congratulated by jazz legends and BMI executives at the Institute's gala reception on Capitol Hill following the competition. Shown flanking Reijngoud are (from left): BMI's Robbin Ahrold, BMI jazz composers Wayne Shorter and Jimmy Heath, BMI's Jean Banks and BMI jazz composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as Chairman of the Monk Institute

Award winners, celebrity judges, and members of Congress celebrate following the 2003 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Competition at the U.S. Capitol Building. Shown at the reception are (from left) Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree Dr. David Baker, celebrity judge and legendary trombonist Steve Turre, BMI/Thelonious Monk Composers Competition winner Ilja Reijngoud and Monk Institute President Tom Carter

SOURCENews TAGS Jazz International Artists Herbie Hancock Thelonious Monk Wayne Shorter