Sharing a February 3, 2026 article from L1 Nieuws. By Judith Kuypers Photos: schreenshots L1 Translation: Diana D. Le From the article about his father, we learn that André Rieu's trumpet player, Roger Diederen, is injured with a broken elbow, thus explains his absence in the JSO since the beginning of January 2026. Roger's last performance was at André's Christmas concerts at the MECC in December 2025. Roger's son, Romano Diederen, has been performing in his place instead. 86-year-old Jan Diederen retires from the brass band after 78 years: "I'm really proud" It was a few years after the Second World War that Jan Diederen, as a 9-year-old boy, became a member of the Sint Caecilia brass band in Schinnen (town in Limburg). He probably never thought then that he would only stop 78 years later. But the baton is being passed on to sons and grandsons: "I'm really proud!" It wasn't a conscious choice 78 years ago: "It was a matter of course in our family. My brother was in the brass band and my father was on the board. As a little boy, I was interested in music, so I also became a member of the Sint Caecilia brass band in Schinnen." Made a name for himself on the euphonium Although Jan was forced to move to Puth (another town in Limburg) after his marriage, his heart has always remained in Schinnen and therefore, also with the brass band from that town. After first playing the horn, he later switched to the euphonium (tenor tuba), on which Jan played most of his music. Son Roger Diederen: "My father is modest, but he always had a real reputation as a euphonium player in Limburg and far beyond." Conductor Jan was not only successful as a brass player. He also conducted several bands: Limbricht, Jabeek, and Heerlerheide. And he was second conductor at his beloved Sint Caecilia brass band in Schinnen. The wife as a secret weapon "For a wife, it's a disaster if the husband is a musician," Jan Diederen jokes. But he means it in a positive way. "Without her, I would have been nowhere. She always made sure my uniforms were in perfect condition and my shirts were washed and ironed, even later when the children joined the marching band." Euphonium A euphonium is a brass wind instrument from the low or mid-low register. It is, as it were, a warm baritone voice within the brass section. In terms of shape, it resembles a small tuba. It usually has three or four valves that are operated with the hands. A euphonium is mainly used in wind orchestras, marching bands, and brass bands. Highlight Jan doesn't have to think long about the highlight of his 78 years of playing music in the marching band in Schinnen: "The WMC [World Music Contest] in Kerkrade in 1951. From that moment on, I have experienced every WMC and every competition." Passing on the baton Jan also raised his two sons with music. Roger: "That was instilled in us from a young age. I think I used to have a bugle that was made from two bugles. There was always music in the Diederen household." Roger has been playing with André Rieu's orchestra since the 1990s, although he is currently injured with a broken elbow. Three generations After the children, the grandchildren also became members of the marching band in Schinnen. Grandson Romano still remembers how it used to be: "At home, there was always music thanks to my dad. The trumpets were lying among the Lego and Playmobil. When I had lost my baby teeth, I immediately started trumpet lessons. After school, I often went to my grandparents' house to practice playing the trumpet, and we went to the marching band rehearsal together." Romano has also become a professional musician. He plays the trumpet in the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Even more family Besides his own children and grandchildren, there are even more family members who are members of the brass band. Roger: "There are nine family members in the brass band. A whole group of only Diederens." Proud Jan is proud of his children and grandchildren. "I am incredibly proud. When I see what qualities they have, not only musically, but also how they are in life, then we are very fortunate that our children and grandchildren have turned out so well." Time to go Although Jan is still fit for his 86 years and can play his euphonium perfectly, he has indicated that he will stop as a musician in the Schinnen brass band. "They are going to the WMC this season, and I would rather not experience that anymore, because it is too physically demanding for me. There is a time to start and a time to stop. And I thought to myself: you shouldn't only stop when you can no longer blow. I can still do it now. And so I thought, I'll stop now. It's been good."