Beriato Music

Wouter Lenaerts (°1981) is a Belgian composer, conductor and pianist. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and received 5 Master Degrees: -Master in Music for Music Writing (1999-2003) -Master in Music for Piano (1999-2004) -Master in Music for Wind Band Conducting (2003-2006) -Master in Music for Composit...ion (2004-2007) -Master in Music for Symphonic Conducting (2004-2008) Wouter studied Music Writing in the class of Rafaël D’Haene, where he graduated in Harmony with Ann Kuppens, in Counterpoint and Fugue with Kristin De Smedt. He studied Piano with Boyan Vodenitcharov and participated in master classes with other renowned pianists as Kum Sing Lee, Sontraud Speidel, Pilar Valero en André De Groote. Wouter studied Wind Band Conducting with Norbert Nozy & Piet Jeegers and conducted the Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides in his exam concert. One of the works on the program was his own composition ‘Niflheim’ for symphonic wind orchestra. In 2007 he graduated in Composition with the highest distinction in the class of Rafaël D’Haene with his work ‘Lettres Oubliées’ for symphonic orchestra. Wouter studied Symphonic Conducting with Silveer Van den Broeck and Ronald Zollman and in 2008 he conducted the ‘Kauno Miesto Symfoninis Orkestras’ in Kaunas (Lithuania). On this exam concert he also performed the premiere of his own composition ‘Lettres Oubliées’. Wouter was assigned several times for his remarkable studies at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. He received the prize 'Lunssens' for his exceptional results of Harmony. Also for Fugue he was rewarded with the prize 'Gevaert'. Moreover he was awarded the prize of the Artistic Foundation 'Mathilde E. Horlait-Dapsens' for his extraordinary merits at this Conservatory. Since 2004 he teaches Music Writing himself at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. As a composer he has written many pieces for piano, voice, chamber music and works for symphonic orchestra, symphonic wind orchestra and fanfare. Wouter is known for his colorful, natural and expressive style of composing and many of his pieces are based on myths, legends and religious themes. His compositions have been performed in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia and Japan en have been recorded by famous orchestras and conductors. In 2007 a collection of his works for symphonic wind orchestra has been released on CD ‘In the Picture’ with Beriato Music. The piece 'Devil's Island' for symphonic wind band was awarded the 'First Prize with unanimity' at the Composition competition of the 'European Music Festival for Youngsters' in Neerpelt. It became the obligatory piece in the highest level for the 'European Music Festival' for orchestras in May 2005. His pieces 'The Shadow of Golgotha', 'Devil's Island' and 'Niflheim' were marked as obligatory pieces in the Dutch index of wind music in 2006. From his concerto for flute and orchestra, which was commissioned by the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Antwerp and flutist Aldo Baerten, a DVD recording was made during the start, development and premiere in March 2006. The live recording of the piece received very good foreign press releases. His composition ‘Visions’ for harp and strings was dedicated to and performed by his sister and harpist, Anneleen Lenaerts. In 2006 Wouter has been nominated for the 'Gouden Klaproos', the SABAM trophy for creative artists in the division Wind music in Flanders and Brussels. In that same year he was appointed as the conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of Limburg. Wouter has been regularly invited as a jury member and guest conductor with several orchestras and also for recordings and performances of his own pieces many orchestras appeal to him for advice. www.wouterlenaerts.com Read More