Jan Bartlema was born in Zwolle, The Netherlands in 1959. He grew up in a musical family where both classical and world music were listened to.After starting with flute lessons Jan finally choose to focus on the guitar.Jan studied at the music conservatories of Zwolle and Enschede under Pieter van der Staak and Jorge Oraison respectively. During his training he also undertook a number of master classes by John Mills, among others. After the music conservatory he furthered his training with Czech Guitarist Milan Zelenka in Prague, with whom he collaborated on various concerts and radio performances in both The Czech Republic and The Netherlands. Additionally Jan performed as soloist in various other European countries and Canada. Along with solo recitals and guitar concerts, Jan has frequently performed with Orchestras (like Rodrigo - concierto de Aranjuez , Castelnuovo Tedesco - concerto in D and the premier of the guitar concerto by Annette Kruisbrink) guitar and choir, guitar and organ, guitar and cello, guitar and piano/harpsichord, and as member of the chamber music group Juerga ensemble, consisting of a soprano, flute and two guitars.In his repertoire he prefers originality and his search for new music has lead him to many pieces that have been specifically dedicated to him by composers van der Staak, Kruisbrink, de Marez Oyens and Ourkouzounov.This has resulted in the release of two CDs featuring the works of van der Staak and Kruisbrink, both of which have been highly praised by guitar industry periodicals. Two additional chamber music CDs have also been released by the Juerga ensemble and the Encuentro Guitar Quartet.Jan has also composed and published his own guitar compositions with De Haske Publications in The Netherlands, Les productions d'Oz in Canada and Edition Daminus in Germany. Many of these works are written as educational pieces for solo guitar, duets and ensembles but also include concert level pieces. Other works include a piece for guitar ensemble, “Tango Par Maxima”, a tribute to the Argentine-born Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, as well as compositions for guitar with diverse combinations such as choir, theatrical percussion and flex band (brass, woodwind, guitar, bass, keyboard and percussion).Additionally Jan has supplemented his education with choir directing courses through Kurt Thomas in Utrecht as well as with Klaas van der Woude.
Currently Jan teaches music in the Assistant Music Teacher program at ROC Friese Poort in Drachten, The Netherlands.
Current solo repertoire:
J. Bartlema Trois Prières
G.P. Telemann Bouree alla Polacca
P. van der Staak Various compositions
A. Kruisbrink Homenaje a Andres Segovia
E. Cordero El Carbonerito and 2 piezas Afro-Antillanas
J. Rodrigo Sonata a la Espanola, Tiento Antiguo, Junto al Generalife
R. Westerheide Mistral
E. Stöpler Luminescence
A.Ourkouzounov Caprice on an orthodox chant
L.Brouwer Quintetto for guitar and stringquartet,
Paysaje Cubano con Campanas, Un dia de Noviembre
Guitars by: Juan Alvarez, Otto Vowinkel, Amalio Burguet
