We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our beloved former teacher Jan Wijn on July 12 A highly inspired piano pedagogue, he was one of the pillars of the Dutch music world, held in high esteem at home and abroad for his contribution to the music life in our country. He was 88 years old.

Jan Wijn's importance for the Conservatorium van Amsterdam is unprecedented. In the fifty-two years that he taught at our institute, he was a key figure in the development of Dutch piano education. Many of the pianists he trained have gone on to international careers, such as Ronald Brautigam, Paolo Giacometti, Ivo Janssen, Yoram Ish-Hurwitz, Frank van de Laar, Folke Nauta, Frank Peters, Marietta Petkova, Wibi Soerjadi, Hannes Minnaar, Thomas Beijer and Lucas and Arthur Jussen. His name also attracted many piano students from abroad, who came from all over the world to study with him.
In addition to his teaching, Jan Wijn was a highly esteemed jury member at national and international competitions, and for many years he was a member of the Advisory Board of the National Music Instrument Fund.

In 2020 Jan Wijn retired from the conservatory. At the concert in honour of his farewell, which took place in October 2021 due to Covid-19, he was awarded the Frans Banninck Cocq medal of the city of Amsterdam for his great artistic and pedagogical merits as pianist and principal subject teacher at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Earlier, in 2009, he was appointed Officer in the Order of Oranje-Nassau.
Jan Wijn's unique vision on piano education lives on in the book Speel! The lessons of Jan Wijn by Sandra Kooke.

We remember him with the utmost gratitude and appreciation.