Duo Beumer and  Van Ham
Since 2005, Sander Beumer (saxophone) and Hans van Ham have been passionately engaged in the colorful world of music for saxophone and piano. They are widely praised for their inspired ensemble playing and constantly surprise their audiences with original and captivating programs. In Sander's hands, the saxophone has a warm, velvety sound, punishing the stereotypical image of the saxophone as being sharp, loud and brassy. Not surprisingly, Sander plays on a Buescher – a historical instrument - to better realize his sound ideal.

In recent years, Duo B & VH often choose music originally written for string instruments such as viola and cello. Their lyrical qualities as a duo are expressed optimally in this. Think of music by Bruch, Wieniavsky, Viextemps, Glinka and Glazounov. New music also has their full attention. Composers like to write for this duo which has already resulted in 11 new compositions, some for two saxophones and piano and one for saxophone, violin and piano. Their CD Red to Black gives a good picture of their vision of Dutch music of the early 21st century and the late 1990s. Some of this new repertoire composed for them is increasingly becoming part of the saxophone curriculum at conservatories.

Season 2023/2024 is marked by an adventurous project in collaboration with American master saxophonist Wildy Zumwalt, who, by the way, also plays on Buescher. Dutch composers Lowell Dykstra, Gijs van Dijk and Joost Kleppe have all written a new trio for this occasional formation. The premieres of these trios took place in October 2023 in the Netherlands (in Utrecht and Amsterdam respectively), followed two months later by a successful reprise during the World Saxophone Congress in Las Palmas. At the end of October 2024 this collaboration will be followed up during a short tour of Duo B & VH and Wildy Zumwalt through the United States where these new trios will also be heard again.