conductor

Wouter Lenaerts (°1981) is considered one of the most versatile musicians of his generation. As a composer, conductor and pianist, he stands out in different musical areas that extend each other from different angles and result in a profound musical experience.

In his artistic vision he seeks an enriching symbiose between composing and performing music.

Wouter studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and received 5 Master diplomas. In the classes of Rafaël D'Haene and Boyan Vodenitcharov he studied respectively Music Writing (Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue) and Piano (2004).

Then he followed Symphonic Wind Orchestra Conducting (2006) with Norbert Nozy and for his examination concert he conducted the Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides, including on the program his own work Niflheim for symphonic wind orchestra.

He completed his education in the speciality of Composition (2007) in the class of Rafaël D'Haene with his work Lettres Oubliées for symphonic orchestra and obtained the highest distinction.

At the same time he studied Symphonic Orchestra Conducting (2008) with Silveer Van den Broeck and Ronald Zollman and performed his exam concert with the Kauno Miesto Symfoninis Orkestras in Kaunas (Lithuania). With this orchestra he premiered his composition Lettres Oubliées.

Wouter was repeatedly awarded due to his remarkable studies at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels (1999-2008). He received the award 'Lunssens' for his special examination of Harmony and he was awarded the prize "Gevaert" for Fugue. In addition, he was rewarded with the prize of the Artistic Foundation 'Mathilde E. Horlait-Dapsens' for his exceptional performance in this Conservatory.

Since 2004 Wouter teaches Music Writing and Analysis for conductors at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

As a composer Wouter is well known for his colorful, natural and expressive composition style. He has written pieces for piano, harp, voice, chamber music and works for symphony orchestra and symphonic wind orchestra.

His compositions are often performed all around Europe, the United States, Latin America and Japan and are recorded by renowned musicians.

The work Devil's Island for symphonic wind orchestra was awarded the First Prize and unanimity of the jury on the Composition Contest of the European Youth Music Festival in Neerpelt in 2004 and became the compulsory work in the highest division of the same competition for orchestras in May 2005.

In 2006 and 2011 Wouter was nominated for the Gouden Klaproos, the SABAM prize for composers, respectively in the disciplines Wind Orchestra and Chamber Music.

Wouter is the founder and artistic director of the newly established orchestra symphoniaASSAI, a new symphonic collective for the Limburg region. He also collaborates with the Norwegian Youth Chamber Music Festival in Stavanger as conductor of the chamber orchestra and with the Limburgs Orkest Jeugd en Muziek from Hasselt.

He is regularly invited as a jury member and guest conductor with orchestras, and often asked as a consultant in recordings and performances of his compositions.  

Assai Cello quartet

Born in 2013, the ASSAI Cello Quartet comes as an initiative from four symphoniaASSAI members to expand their activity within the orchestra beyond the symphonic frame.

Clara Sanchez, Helena Fuertes, Koen Berger and Johanna Peiler have all studied in Belgian Conservatories (Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel and Lemmensinstituut Leuven); however, they unite the characters and qualities of three different nationalities: Spanish, Belgian and German.

Passionate about music in general and cello in particular, they want to share their enthusiasm and energy not only through orchestral playing, but also through this very particular chamber music project.

The cello having a very broad range from bass to soprano register, is particularly suitable to form a quartet with fourth identical instruments.

With a wide repertoire of original pieces and interesting transcriptions, works for cello quartet include music that goes from J.S. Bach to A. Piazzola, passing by W. Fitzenhagen or J. Jongen.

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