Jan Pustjens is probably best known as percussionist at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam and as owner and director of Pustjens Percussion Products.



For a long time Jan Pustjens was the most senior member of the percussion section in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He began his tenure with the orchestra in 1974 with the renowned Bernard Haitink at the podium.



He says of his first few years with the orchestra, "We didn't have the variety of instruments and sounds we have now, but those first years truly tested our abilities to get many sounds out of one instrument." Jan has seen a tremendous change in the sound choices he now has, but he has also adhered to the traditions that were part of his predecessors.



Jan Pustjens, born October 31, 1946, completed his professional training at the Maastricht Conservatory (NL), from which he graduated Cum Laude. While still at school he was engaged by the Orchestra of Opera Forum in Enschede as Principal Percussionist and Timpanist.



After graduation in 1968 he assumed the post of Principal Percussionist in the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra in Amsterdam.



In 1974 he resigned in order to accept the same position in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.



In addition to his orchestral duties, Jan Pustjens taught and headed the internationally renowned percussion faculty at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.



Jan was also active on the European clinic circuit, and presented master class and clinic throughout the percussion community for many years.



On Friday, January 7, 2011 at 3 am Jan Pustjens peacefully passed away in his sleep.