STEPHAN VERMEERSCH

Stephan Vermeersch (Belgium) studied at the Lemmens Institute Leuven and Royal Conservatory Ghent in Belgium and holds degrees in Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Saxophone and Chamber Music. He studied clarinet with Greet Severens (student of Walter Boeykens) and saxophone with Ed Bogaard. He attended lots of master classes and workshops.

Stephan has gained an international reputation as versatile performer-improviser-composer of classical, contemporary, world and electro-acoustical music with many crossovers to other cultures and art forms (visual arts, dance, film, architecture, literature, theater…). He participated as soloist/chamber musician in a multitude of genres on clarinets & saxophones at concerts and festivals in over 30 countries East- & West-Europe, Middle-East, Russia, USA, Canada, Armenia, Pakistan, India, Japan, China and Mongolia.

As composer/improviser his motto is: “What lies beyond the border: a quest for new captivating music for a wide public: Far reaching and enriching!” He writes mainly for clarinets/saxophones and on request of many performers his music will soon be published.

Stephan is an active teacher in clarinets, saxophones and chamber music at the Academy of Arts, Knokke-Heist, Belgium and in the Netherlands. Also here he is gaining a reputation with his special approach: “Learning music brain efficiently: balancing cognition, psychomotorics and affection”. Worldwide he is in demand for master classes and workshops covering many aspects of musicianship.

Stephan is President of the European Clarinet Association: this organization strives to unite European clarinet players beyond country, cultural, social and language boarders and of course collaborate with clarinet associations worldwide.