Els van der Weij (born in 1987) - Saxophone

Els got her Bachelor of Music degree in 2012 at the conservatory of Utrecht, The Netherlands. She studied classical saxophone there with professor Johan van der Linden. His inspiring lessons helped her to grow tremendously as a saxophonist, in her musicality and stage presence. She finished her Bachelor with a great final recital. To develop herself even more as a musician she started with a Master of Music in September 2012, also in Utrecht with Johan van der Linden.

In 2010 Els took part in the Erasmus Exchange program and studied one semester in Stockholm, with professor Christer Johnsson. There she learned a lot about musical phrasing. She has had masterclasses with a.o. Vincent David (Fr), Arno Bornkamp (NL), Lars Mlekusch (Au), Jan Schulte-Bunert (De), Wildy Zumwalt (USA) en Claus Olesen (Dk).

Besides Trio Nebula, she is the soprano saxophone player of the Illicium Saxophone Quartet. Since 2013 she also plays in the jongNBE, a branch of the Dutch wind ensemble NBE.  

Els currently teaches the saxophone at two winds bands in Hattem and Hilversum.