Jan Wijn

Jan Wijn (born 1934, Amsterdam) is a Dutch pianist and piano pedagogue.

Wijn studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory under Cornelius Berkhout, where he received his diploma in 1955. He then studied under Bela Siki in Switzerland and Alicia de Larrocha in Spain. In 1960, Jan Wijn won first place in the "concours van Ourense" (international piano competition in Ourense (Spain)). Up to 1975 Jan Wijn had an international as well as national career. Problems with his right hand caused him to retire from 1976 to 1997. Throughout this time he studied playing the piano with only his left hand. He now has full mobility of both hands, and plays with his right hand.

Famous works he has performed include:

  • Johannes Brahms: Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 5
  • Claude Debussy: Preludes
  • Franz Liszt: Sonata in B minor
  • Frédéric Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
  • Maurice Ravel: Miroirs
  • Manuel de Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain for piano and orchestra
  • Richard Strauss: Burleske in D minor for piano and orchestra
  • Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saëns, Ravel: Piano Concertos

Under his teachings are the names Ronald Brautigam, Wibi Soerjadi, Hans Eijsackers, Paolo Giacometti, and Arthur and Lucas Jussen.