Erik Veldkamp studied jazz and lead trumpet and arranging at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. During his studies he already performed with the Metropole Orchestra, the Skymasters, the Dutch Jazz Orchestra, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and various pop bands.

Erik played and recorded with big bands and ensembles including the WDR Big Band, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, the NDR Big Band, King of Swing Orchestra, Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Big Band Bremen, Sunday Night Orchestra, HR-Bigband, Holland Big Band, Summit Jazz Orchestra, Ten of the Best, Rhine Phillis Orchestra and Philharmonie Zuidnederland.
He was lead player of the Glenn Miller Orchestra for more than twenty years and toured all over Europe with this orchestra. Among the highlights of his career are a tour in Japan and China with Ten of the Best and the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, and a tour to the US with the Dutch Jazz Orchestra to perform for the Ellington/Strayhorn family. He has been a regular member of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw since 2019, and 2021 he joined the Cubop City Big Band.

Erik has worked with artists such as Bill Holman, Herbie Hancock, John Clayton, Paul Anka, The Themptations, The Four Tops, Toots Thielemans, Bob Mintzer, John Scofield, Steve Vai, Bob Malach, Vince Mendoza, Ack and Jerry van Rooijen, Rob Pronk, Lee Konitz, Jens Winther, Bill Dobbins, Ornette Coleman, Warren Vache, Jeff Hamilton, Allen Vizzutti, the Pointer Sisters and Kiki Dee. He has also played concerts and TV shows with many famous Dutch singers, such as Ruth Jacott, Lee Towers, Paul de Leeuw, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Greetje Kauffeld, Rita Rijs and Bløf.

Erik has written various compositions and arrangements for different orchestras and over two hundred books for trumpet, trombone, horn and tuba. He has been a teacher of trumpet technique at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam since 2019.

Website Erik Veldkamp