Pianist, guitarist and bassonist, born in the Hague, died in Laren (near Hilversum) . He studied music theory, bassoon and piano at the conservatory in the Hague. As a guitarist he is self-taught, but learnt much through his association with Andrés Segovia and especially with Ida Presti. From 1945 up to c.1982 he was responsible for guitar education at the Musiklyceum Hilversum. Until 1950 he was bossoonist in Hilversum’s Radio Philharmonisch Orkest and 1950-1955 with the Concertgebouw Orkest of Amsterdam. At the same time he performed as guitar soloist. In 1948 de Hilster founded the association ‘Constantijn Huygens’ of Dutch and Belgian guitarists. From its inception up until 1960, he was chairman of this association and editor of the bimonthly periodical ‘Constantijn Huygens’ (1951-1960). During that time he organized many guitar festivals in Holland, and he was instrumental in bringing many famous guitarists to play in Dutch concert halls. Since 1955 he was teacher in several music institutions. At the conservatory of Tilburg he taught his most gifted student Nelly van der Velden (* 1940), whom he later married. In 1959 they made their debut as a guitar duo. Nelly de Hilster is a well-known soloist who has great success with recordings of studies bei Aguado and Carcassi. Other remarkable students of Ries de Hilster are Atti Jonkers. Jo Coolen, Paula Oremus, Lydia Kennedy.
(Rainer Stelle)