Olaf Ritman

Olaf Ritman is a composer/arranger from the Netherlands. He grew up in a Salvation Army family with Salvationist parents and grandparents. His father and grandfather were active bandmasters in several corps. Olaf started playing the cornet at age ten and began learning the piano soon after. From a young age, he developed an interest in composing and conducting.

At the age of 22, Olaf took up the baton to become Bandmaster at his home corps. Until 2024, Olaf was the Bandmaster of the Amsterdam Staff Band. He first joined the band on Solo Cornet in 2000 and became the Deputy Bandmaster in 2006. In 2009, he accepted his position as Staff Bandmaster and joined a distinguished array of musical directors that helped build the Netherland’s fine brass band tradition, including musicians such as Bernard Verkaaik, Cor Nieuwland, Dick Krommenhoek, and Howard Evans. Olaf works for an IT company that helps middle schools embed modern technologies into the classroom.