Artistic direction

Björn Bus

Björn Bus was born in 1980 in Brunssum, the Netherlands. His musical roots also lie there, in the south of the Netherlands. He started out as a drummer with the Harmonie Orkest Concordia Treebeek. He later switched to the trombone.

Björn Bus learned conducting from Alex Schillings. He graduated from the Groningen Conservatory of Music in 2004. He completed his Bachelor’s degree summa cum laude. In the same year, he completed his training as a trombonist with Harrie Ries at the Maastricht University of Music. In 2005 and 2006 he studied baroque trombone with Wim Becu at the Musikhochschule Aachen. He completed his master’s degree in conducting at the Maastricht Conservatory in 2011, also with summa cum laude. His teacher was the internationally renowned conductor Jan Cober.

Björn Bus has been able to demonstrate his talent and win prizes at numerous master classes and competitions. He attended further master classes in conducting and worked with well-known personalities.

In 2005 he came second in the EBBA (European Brass Band Association) conducting competition in Groningen. He received the bronze baton at the WMC 2009 (World Music Contest) in Kerkrade.

Björn Bus is currently the General Artistic Manager of the World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade. He conducts the following orchestras and ensembles: Orchestra of the Dutch Customs, Landesblasorchester Baden-Württemberg, Koninklijke Harmonie Sint-Martinus Opgrimbie, Harmonie St. Joseph Sittard and the Belgian Saxophone Choir. He is a board member of the WASBE association (World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles).

Björn Bus is also a sought-after guest conductor with well-known orchestras in Germany and abroad. He has been a frequent guest with the Leipzig Radio Wind Orchestra, the Royal Military Band ‘Johan Willem Friso’, the Banda Municipal Barcelona, the wind orchestra of Senzoku Gakuen College in Tokyo and the wind orchestra of the Maastricht University of Music. He also gives conducting courses and is a sought-after adjudicator at international competitions.

Björn Bus has been Artistic Director of the Landesblasorchester Baden-Württemberg since 2014.

More information can also be found at www.bjornbus.nl or on Björn Bus’ Facebook page.

Former conductors

Guest conductors