Nederlands Blazers Ensemble

Het Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (Outside the Netherlands known as The Netherlands Wind Ensemble) was founded in 1959 by students at the Amsterdam Conservatory and was directed initially by Thom de Klerk, principal bassoonist of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. After de Klerk's death in 1966, conductor Edo de Waart (himself a former principal oboist in the Concertgebouw Orchestra) became music director and helped establish the international reputation of the emsemble through tours and recordings.