Education
Born Gerard Gijsbertus Jacobus van Rooijen, he studied trumpet at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, graduating in 1950.
composer conductor jazz musician
Born Gerard Gijsbertus Jacobus van Rooijen, he studied trumpet at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, graduating in 1950.
While an exchange student in New York, he became enamored with American jazz, and (along with brother Ack) became a trailblazer for modern jazz in his home country of the Netherlands. In his long musical career, Van Rooyen led various big bands in Paris, Berlin, Cologne (WDR Big Band) and Hilversum (Metropole Orchestra). He also wrote many arrangements and compositions for jazz orchestras, and in 1972, he was one of the three composers for the opening music of the Olympic Games in Munich.
