In Memoriam Erik-Jan de With (English)
The Hague, 20 February 2025
It’s difficult to grasp: Erik-Jan is no longer with us.
Erik-Jan: master saxophonist, heartwarming human being, musical touchstone, walking archive, inspiration and organiser, backbone of countless ensembles and initiatives, our much-loved friend and colleague – we miss you more than we can say.
Last Saturday, on 15 February 2025, Erik-Jan passed away completely unexpectedly. He was 48 years old. Our thoughts are with his wife Marjon and his children Romy and Niek, with his family, and with his many friends and colleagues. We wish them all strength in this immense loss.
Erik-Jan was one of the founders of Ensemble Klang. For more than twenty years, we played side-by-side on stages from The Hague to New York to Paris. For many of us, the connection went back even further, to early study years at the Royal Conservatoire or even, in Saskia’s case, to high school days. We supported each other through graduations. Moving in to first homes, relationships blossoming, and relationships passing. There were weddings, and children were born.
We went through life together with Erik-Jan, and in everything we did we shared a deep love of music.
Just a month ago, Erik-Jan gave a stellar performance at Wigmore Hall in London, where we performed the world premiere of OCCAM DELTA XXIII by Éliane Radigue and Carol Robinson. We started the year with a number of thrilling concerts and radio recordings. Erik-Jan was on top form and full of enthusiasm for future projects. His passion lay not only in playing itself, but also in the camaraderie that comes with an ensemble. Taking long walks together, going to museums or strolling through the woods. His warm presence during rehearsals and on tour is a fond memory.
Erik-Jan was a lifelong advocate of the saxophone. He championed all manifestations of the instrument, from the sopranino to the tubax. He did so as a soloist on stages from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to the Long Play Festival in New York; as a player in his many ensembles, from saxophone quartet and jazz band to wind orchestra and Orkest De Ereprijs; and as a teacher, motivator and organiser. Under his founding leadership, the Westland Saxophone Festival grew into a leading event.
His passion spanned many musical genres and styles, and he worked as happily with young musicians and amateurs as with professionals. He premiered works by countless composers, and compiled a meticulous archive of saxophone repertoire, with recordings, dates, performers and sheet music. His enthusiasm formed the hub of lively musical communities in his hometown of The Hague and neighbouring Westland, as well as around his rural retreat in Hoenderloo and further afield.
With his personality and his music, Erik-Jan touched many hearts, not least those of fellow musicians.
On this page, the remaining players of Ensemble Klang share some short personal memories. In addition, we post some contributions from members of 9×13, also part of the Ensemble Klang Foundation, and from Erik-Jan’s former teacher Leo van Oostrom.
Rest in peace, Erik-Jan.
‘Sweet, robust, no-nonsense. Full of integrity, hard-working, intuitive and a little bit mysterious. Each concert was a musical journey in which we got to know each other anew.
Dear Erik-Jan, you could still have played so many beautiful notes, initiated so many fantastic projects. Even recently, a growing confidence pointed forwards towards one of the most idiosyncratic and skilful saxophonists of our time.
I will miss our conviviality and obvious friendship immensely, and especially that beautiful, honest, sometimes raw but always musical tone, it was a perfect reflection of just the way you were.’
Saskia Lankhoorn, pianist Ensemble Klang

‘I met Erik-Jan on the Moldau in Prague, in 2001, when we were there with the Dutch National Youth Orchestra. We happened to end up together on a bench by the river and sat talking late into the night. Since then, we have experienced a lot together. We formed the duo Switch, in 2003 we started Ensemble Klang together and shortly afterwards we played with Michaela Riener in the Anstatt dass Trio, because we were such fans of the music of Eisler, Dessau and Weill.
Apart from all the musical adventures, we were also often in the pub together. On the one hand, we had very serious conversations, but on the other hand it was also just a lot of laughter. Erik-Jan was wonderfully straightforward and was always there for you if you needed him. As a player, he never shied away from a challenge and managed to broaden his horizons as the years went by. Just last July, I was floored seeing him play super-virtuosic 1920s jazz novelties.
It is hardly possible to describe in words how sorry I am that you are no longer here, Erik-Jan. We experienced so much beauty. Just last week we were on stage together, and in January, Anton, you and I worked intensively on Radigue & Robinson’s new OCCAM DELTA XXIII, playing its premiere at Wigmore Hall in London.
We happily had time to walk and talk during those days. Those memories are lasting and very precious.’
Joey Marijs, percussionist Ensemble Klang

‘When you work with new compositions week in, week out, it can be difficult to determine whether something is good or not. Sometimes you question your own ‘quality compass’: is this piece actually worthwhile, is it honest and sincere? Erik-Jan was that compass for me. He went one hundred per cent for a composer’s vision and was willing to do anything you asked of him, no matter how strange or uncomfortable. He had a special ability to see beauty and strength in creators who kept looking for new and unconventional ways. I could always tell, by looking Erik-Jan in the eyes, if a piece wasn’t quite right.
‘When we just started Klang, I considered Erik-Jan to be very mature – he was a bit older, a bit wiser, a bit more experienced. He seemed to have a better understanding of what was possible. I remember him saying, ‘If we work hard, we might even be able to earn some money doing this!’’
Pete Harden, guitarist & artistic director Ensemble Klang

‘I was just entering the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague when I played in one of the many occasional new music ensembles. This included the other future Klangers, Joey, Pete, Saskia, Heiko and Erik-Jan. I was deeply impressed by all the knowledge and skill and very happy to join. Not much later, Erik-Jan asked me to join a new ensemble: that was Ensemble Klang.
I remember Erik-Jan as a driven, modest, committed and pro-active person. If he wanted something – and Erik-Jan saw opportunities and challenges everywhere – he would go all the way to realise that. Above all, he was a musician through-and-through. He lived music, and wanted to share it with as many people as possible. Irrespective of genre, Erik-Jan mastered it all.
With his passing, the Hague saxophone sound has lost an important ambassador and performer. That rasping, somewhat rawer, more jazzy sound, with steel mouthpieces and vintage material – very different from the French school you hear so often these days. That Hague sound works wonderfully with new music, especially in the style that Klang performs. For that tradition, it really is a massive loss that Erik-Jan is no longer here.
On stage, you could always rely on him. Erik-Jan was a rock solid player, who prepared not only his own part but the whole score immensely well. He could leap out and shine in a virtuoso solo. He never played it safe, and when needed could unleash a sound of full-blooded richness.
After more than twenty years on stage next to him, we were perfectly attuned to each other. We experienced another highlight on 17 January at Wigmore Hall with the premiere of OCCAM DELTA XXIII by Radigue & Robinson, a trio for Erik-Jan, Joey and me. That piece requires supreme concentration and interconnection, the performances were incredibly intense, also magical.
I think it was also a highlight for Erik-Jan. What a farewell.’
Anton van Houten, trombonist & business director Ensemble Klang

‘I studied at The Hague Conservatory a generation or two earlier and only really got to know Erik-Jan when I joined Ensemble Klang. In part, we share the same influences and I recognised a lot in his playing. He was able to move in various musical worlds and to inspire and push fellow musicians.
On stage, it was a joy with him: alert to what was happening musically, never afraid to take a risk in his playing. We also found each other in real saxophonist talk about repertoire, instruments, timbres, and mouthpieces. Erik-Jan was always full of interest, always willing to share his vast knowledge and help people.
And then all those initiatives: bands, ensembles, festivals, concerts. The guy was tireless! What a great loss. He could still have done so many wonderful things.’
Michiel van Dijk, saxophonist Ensemble Klang

‘In 1993, Erik-Jan joined me as a 16-year-old in the Young Talent class at the Royal Conservatoire: an uninhibited, timid and beautiful little fellow. Unlike many other students, he needed no encouragement; he absorbed everything handed to him.
He was very serious, chose his own pace and founded ensembles like the Python Quartet, the Hague Saxophone Quartet and, of course, Klang.
He followed a deliberate path in his development, with final exam in 2005 passed with distinction being but an intermediate stage in his career. Ever broader and more complete, both musically and socially and organisationally unstoppable: Erik Jan was far from finished!
A versatile musician, loyal colleague, beloved friend and, above all, a rare beautiful and harmonious human being leaves us.’
Leo van Oostrom, former teacher of Erik-Jan

‘I was sixteen when Erik-Jan became my new saxophone teacher at music school. He immediately gave me new study books and recordings, and opened up a new world of possibilities to me. He got his students to play together in ensembles and quartets and organised concerts and preview evenings that grew into entire festivals in Westland, with workshops, master classes and concerts.
Saxophonists from all over the country attended and he invited top saxophonists, from Arno Bornkamp to Candy Dulfer. He was always supported by his family: his wife played in the ensembles and helped with the organisation together with his daughter and son. I was sold and wanted to do what he did: just be involved with the saxophone and go to the Conservatoire in The Hague.
Later, Erik-Jan and I were once in the pub with a fellow student of mine, we realised that a saxophonist friend was due to play his master’s exam recital in Munich. On his insistence, we leapt in the car the next morning and drove there. We arrived at 4pm and by 6am the next day we were back in the car, because Erik-Jan had a concert to play that day. He drove all the way and wanted to know nothing about sharing the travel expenses.
He was one of the most versatile saxophonists. From a classical-romantic melody with a warm sound to a ripping Michael Brecker solo or a raw sound in the music of Louis Andriessen: he could apply whatever was needed for the music. And if a composer asked him something, he knew exactly how to achieve it on the saxophone.
He was also a walking archive. Old magazines, interviews, recordings, sheet music, if it had to do with the saxophone and with music, it had to be kept neatly arranged for the next generation. I only had to send a message asking if he had a score of a particular composition and within minutes I got a link back.’
Daan van Koppen, saxophonist 9×13, guest musician Ensemble Klang & former student of Erik-Jan

‘With his big Hague saxophone sound, Erik-Jan was an inspiration, and a super stable colleague to play with. He guided me during my master’s thesis and I was taken aback by his vast knowledge about the instrument and his collection of sheet music, recordings and saxophones.
Apart from being a great musician, he was also a fine colleague. We talked about our common roots on the Veluwe and he was always full of plans and new initiatives.
I remember Erik-Jan as an enthusiastic, energetic and hard-working man. There are no words for his untimely death. He will be greatly missed.’
Deborah Witteveen, saxophonist 9×13, guest musician Ensemble Klang

‘Where do you start when suddenly a colleague dies who you have been with for almost three decades? On stage, at the music school and at the conservatoire. Disbelief, grief, sadness and shock alternate.
Erik-Jan was one of the most passionate saxophonists I know. He was always looking for ways to perform a piece even better, with different reeds, different instruments, a different playing style or a different timbre. During breaks and after rehearsals, there was always musical talk. For hundreds of saxophone pupils and students, he was a shining example, always well prepared, with empathy, patience and enthusiasm. He organised one saxophone or wind event after another, in which both amateurs and professionals participated. His love for music and for the sax was contagious.
How heartbreaking for his family and for the music world that he only lived for such a short time. The loss is enormous.’
Arne Visser, tuba player 9×13, guest musician Ensemble Klang & guest conductor Orkest De Ereprijs

‘Ever since our college days, we knew each other. There was always a chat, Erik-Jan would come and ask how things were going with his big friendly smile. His enthusiasm was infectious and he was full of energy. Playing together was a joy, he took people into the musical story and kept an eye out for his fellow musicians, both critical and complimentary.
Lately, he spoke fondly of his holiday home in Hoenderloo. That it was so wonderful in nature for everyone. Erik-Jan leaves a big void in many places. I am going to miss him.’
Arthur Kerklaan, trumpet player 9×13 & Asko|Schönberg, guest musician Ensemble Klang and Orkest De Ereprijs

Erik-Jan: good-humoured, friendly, sociable.
And a rare combination of calm passion and intense dedication to music!
Unbelievable…
Joost Geevers, trombonist neo-fanfare 9×13, guest musician Ensemble Klang
