Jan Bartlema studied guitar at the conservatories of Zwolle and Enschede (in the Netherlands) with Pieter van der Staak and Jorge Oraison respectively. He did his postgraduate studies with Milan Zelenka in Prague. Bartlema is active as a solo guitarist, but he also works together with orchestras and chamber music ensembles. He has performed in a number of European countries and in Canada. In his search for original material he has played many new compositions; a number of works have been dedicated to him. He has made various CDs, with works by, among others, Pieter van der Staak and Annette Kruisbrink. His own compositions - for beginner and advanced playing level - are in print through various publishers. Bartlema has had twenty years of experience as a guitar teacher, and he is working in secondary education; he educates teaching assistants within the subject of music.