Géraldine Clément - flute
Géraldine Clément is a versatile flautist performing with equal ability on modern and historical flutes.She often performs with orchestras such as La Monnaie Royal Opera House (BE), the Opera of Flanders (BE), Les Ambassadeurs – la Grande Ecurie (FR), Anima Eterna Bruges (BE), the Collegium Vocale (BE), Gli Angeli Geneva (CH), Geneva Camerata (CH), Le Concert d’Anvers (BE), die Kölner Akademie (DE), as well as in chamber music with the Duo Eidos and the Tmesis Ensemble. She was, from 2014 till 2016, a full member of the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO).
In 2018, Géraldine became assistant teacher for chamber music, flute and piccolo at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel.
She began her musical studies at the Académie Communale « Franz Constant » of Auderghem (Brussels). Alongside the flute, she entered the Children's Choir then the Youth Choir of La Monnaie Royal Opera House in Brussels and took part in many opera productions, CD recordings, tours, concerts… Meanwhile she studied and performed chamber music, folk music, free improvisation, jazz and baroque flute.
Géraldine studied the modern flute at the Koninklijke Conservatoria of Ghent and Brussels, respectively with Myriam Graulus and Carlos Bruneel and graduated in 2015 with High Distinction. After a Concert Musicus Program with Carlos Bruneel, she graduated in 2019 on the baroque flute from the class of Frank Theuns. She also possesses a Master in Pedagogy from the Conservatoire Royal de Liège.
She took part in many master classes with Emmanuel Pahud, Juliette Hurel, Philippe Bernold, Mario Caroli, Toon Fret, Sir James Galway, Fabrizio Cassol, Michael Schmid, Barthold Kuijken, Marc Hantaï… She is laureate of numerous competitions such as Dexia Classics 2008 (1st prizes in flute and chamber music), the Dutch International Flute Competition for bachelor students in 2012 (2d prize) and for master students in 2015 (1st prize). In 2012, Géraldine got offered the « Young Talent » Scholarship by Hulencourt Art Project, in 2015 the Mathilde Horlait-Dapsens Scholarship and in 2019 the Ingeborg Köberle Price
Emile Souvagie - clarinet
Emile Souvagie (°1999) started playing the clarinet at the Academy of Performing Arts in Aalst with
Angélique Steenhaut. He completed his secondary education at the art secondary school of the
Lemmens Institute with Greet Severens.
In 2021 he obtained his master's degree at the Royal
Conservatory of Brussels with highest distinction in the class of Benjamin Dieltjens. In the meantime he also studied for a year at the Kungliga Musikhögskolan in Stockholm with Hermann Stefánsson. He is currently continuing his studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne with Ralph Manno.
At the same time, he is pursuing a master's degree in historical performance practice in Brussels.
Emile already gained orchestral experience with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Lumen Symphonicum, Frascati Symphonic, the Royal Band of the Guides and on historical clarinets with the Orchester des Champs Elysées, Capriola Di Gioia and as a member of the Collegium Vocale Gent
Academy conducted by Philippe Herreweghe. In 2020 he was selected as principal clarinetist for the National Youth Orchestra (NJO) and the Youth Orchestra Flanders (YOF).
He was winner of the 'BeNeLux Clarinet Competition 2014 Gent' in his category and finalist of the 'Young Belgian Talent Competition 2015' in Bozar. He followed masterclasses all over Europe with Martin Fröst, Charles Neidich, Harri Mäki, Yehuda Gilad, Philippe Berrod, Laura Ruiz Ferreres, Andreas Sundén and
Patrick Messina.
In chamber music he played with I Solisti del Vento and was invited with his Trio de Staël
(clarinet-cello-piano) to represent the Royal Conservatory of Brussels at the 'European Chamber Music Academy 2019' in Leipzig. He is also a founding member of the Firgun Ensemble. With this chamber music group (clarinet and string quartet), Emile became the winner of the first prize and the audience prize at the 'Storioni Willem Twee Concours 2018' in 's Hertogenbosch.
This gave them the opportunity to make a recording for NPO Radio 4, live from the Spiegelzaal of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In addition, they were invited several times to the Grachtenfestival and the Arte Amanti Chamber Music Festival. They continue their studies at the Dutch String Quartet Academy (NSKA) and the Orpheus Institute in Ghent.
Angélique Steenhaut. He completed his secondary education at the art secondary school of the
Lemmens Institute with Greet Severens.
In 2021 he obtained his master's degree at the Royal
Conservatory of Brussels with highest distinction in the class of Benjamin Dieltjens. In the meantime he also studied for a year at the Kungliga Musikhögskolan in Stockholm with Hermann Stefánsson. He is currently continuing his studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne with Ralph Manno.
At the same time, he is pursuing a master's degree in historical performance practice in Brussels.
Emile already gained orchestral experience with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Lumen Symphonicum, Frascati Symphonic, the Royal Band of the Guides and on historical clarinets with the Orchester des Champs Elysées, Capriola Di Gioia and as a member of the Collegium Vocale Gent
Academy conducted by Philippe Herreweghe. In 2020 he was selected as principal clarinetist for the National Youth Orchestra (NJO) and the Youth Orchestra Flanders (YOF).
He was winner of the 'BeNeLux Clarinet Competition 2014 Gent' in his category and finalist of the 'Young Belgian Talent Competition 2015' in Bozar. He followed masterclasses all over Europe with Martin Fröst, Charles Neidich, Harri Mäki, Yehuda Gilad, Philippe Berrod, Laura Ruiz Ferreres, Andreas Sundén and
Patrick Messina.
In chamber music he played with I Solisti del Vento and was invited with his Trio de Staël
(clarinet-cello-piano) to represent the Royal Conservatory of Brussels at the 'European Chamber Music Academy 2019' in Leipzig. He is also a founding member of the Firgun Ensemble. With this chamber music group (clarinet and string quartet), Emile became the winner of the first prize and the audience prize at the 'Storioni Willem Twee Concours 2018' in 's Hertogenbosch.
This gave them the opportunity to make a recording for NPO Radio 4, live from the Spiegelzaal of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In addition, they were invited several times to the Grachtenfestival and the Arte Amanti Chamber Music Festival. They continue their studies at the Dutch String Quartet Academy (NSKA) and the Orpheus Institute in Ghent.
Alexandra Lelek - cello
Aleksandra Lelek (born in 1991) graduated with honours in 2016 the cello class of professor Jeroen Reuling at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels (Concert Musicus Program).
She finished her master degree at the Academy of Music in Cracow (Poland) in a class of professor Zdzisław Łapiński. She also studied at the Leopold Mozart Zentrum Univesitat Augsburg within The Erasmus scholarship, in the cello class of professor Julius Berger.
In 2017 she finished PhD at the Academy of Music in Cracow. In addition she has been taking part in numerous masterclasses led by outstanding artists: Arto Noras, Gary Hoffman, Francois Guy, Ivan Monighetti, Frans Helmerson, J.Meissl, A.Rudin.
She is the prize winner and special awards receiver in many interntional competitions in Austria, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Canada. In 2014 she won a Prize founded by the Polish Minister of Culture and Heritage in the Concert-Competitiom of the Year 2014 organized for the best musicians of the Polish Academies of Music. She was a participant at the eminent international festivals in different countries: International New Music Festival “Missa Est” in Munich, Kronberg Academy, Young Talent Music Festival in Schiermonnikoog (Holland) among many others in Belgium, Macedonia, Spain and Portugal, Poland.
As a soloist she performed under the direction of Krzysztof Penderecki and Jerzy Maksymiuk. She is giving concerts on the stages of many countries, both as a soloist and chamber musician. She performed chamber music with Sofia Gubajdulina, Mihaela Martin, Zakhar Bron, Radovan Vladkovic. In 2017 she went for an international tournee (USA) with quintet labeled by Lincoln Center Stage. She recorded for ORF Radio Kulturhaus in Vienna, as a member of a cello ensemble “Cello Passionato”– CD “4 for Peace”. She has taken part in the recording of Polish Cello Music – Dux Recordings. Following this, Aleksandra released her debut album with works for cello and accordion.
Diede Verpoest - violin/viola
Belgian violinist and violist, a son of musician parents, Diede grew up in a house full of music. He received his very first violin lessons from his father. He later studied with Eric Sluys and went on to graduate with highest honours from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels in the class of Philippe Graffin. He has also followed viola lessons with Tony Nys. After his studies he became an assistant of the violin teacher Naaman Sluchin for two years at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels.
Diede has been awarded many prizes for his solo and chamber music performances, the Supernova competition 2019 (co-organised by the Belgian classical music radio stations Klara and Musiq3) together with his duo partner, pianist Claus Vermeulen. This resulted in many concert engagements for the season 2019/20 (featuring performances in the Bozar in Brussels) and a CD recording for the label Etcetera. Diede is also the violinist of Tmesis Ensemble (also laureates of the Supernova competition 2016). Together they released their first album “Echoes”. He was also awarded the 1st Prize in the Dexia Classics competition in 2010 and the Mathilde Horlait-Dapsens Prize for his final recital at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.
As a violist, Diede became a member of the Karski Quartet.They have been awarded the Grand Prix as well as the Special Prize for the alumni of the Royal Conservatory in Brussels at the 4th International Music Competition Triomphe de l'Art in Brussels.
In 2019 the quartet joined the String Quartet Studio programme at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and became Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo/Brussels.
Diede has recently joined the St. George Quintet. They recorded their second CD album “Bohemia Express” which had very positive reactions in The Strad.
Diede has been invited to perform in chamber music festivals in Belgium and abroad, such as Resonances, Ysaye's Knokke, Midis-Minimes, Klarafestival, Schiermonnikoog, Delft Chamber Music Festival, Harmos, Concentus Moraviae, Traces Festival, String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam, North Norfolk Music Festival, Kirker Music Festival.
Diede has been inspired by many musicians, among them Marc and Guy Danel, Amy Norrington, David Waterman, Donald Grant, Pavel Fischer, Ursula Smith… Apart from the classical music repertoire, Diede feels very much drawn to the worlds of folk music, jazz and free improvisation. He is a member of the folk ensemble Roots, who have toured in Flanders and Wallonie and recorded two CD albums (“Point Blue” and “Rewind”).Because of his great passion for country and Bluegrass Diede became also a member of the country band The Dusty Millers.
Diede has been awarded many prizes for his solo and chamber music performances, the Supernova competition 2019 (co-organised by the Belgian classical music radio stations Klara and Musiq3) together with his duo partner, pianist Claus Vermeulen. This resulted in many concert engagements for the season 2019/20 (featuring performances in the Bozar in Brussels) and a CD recording for the label Etcetera. Diede is also the violinist of Tmesis Ensemble (also laureates of the Supernova competition 2016). Together they released their first album “Echoes”. He was also awarded the 1st Prize in the Dexia Classics competition in 2010 and the Mathilde Horlait-Dapsens Prize for his final recital at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.
As a violist, Diede became a member of the Karski Quartet.They have been awarded the Grand Prix as well as the Special Prize for the alumni of the Royal Conservatory in Brussels at the 4th International Music Competition Triomphe de l'Art in Brussels.
In 2019 the quartet joined the String Quartet Studio programme at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and became Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo/Brussels.
Diede has recently joined the St. George Quintet. They recorded their second CD album “Bohemia Express” which had very positive reactions in The Strad.
Diede has been invited to perform in chamber music festivals in Belgium and abroad, such as Resonances, Ysaye's Knokke, Midis-Minimes, Klarafestival, Schiermonnikoog, Delft Chamber Music Festival, Harmos, Concentus Moraviae, Traces Festival, String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam, North Norfolk Music Festival, Kirker Music Festival.
Diede has been inspired by many musicians, among them Marc and Guy Danel, Amy Norrington, David Waterman, Donald Grant, Pavel Fischer, Ursula Smith… Apart from the classical music repertoire, Diede feels very much drawn to the worlds of folk music, jazz and free improvisation. He is a member of the folk ensemble Roots, who have toured in Flanders and Wallonie and recorded two CD albums (“Point Blue” and “Rewind”).Because of his great passion for country and Bluegrass Diede became also a member of the country band The Dusty Millers.
Sara Vujadinovic - piano
Sara Vujadinovic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1991. She has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, and with orchestras, in a variety of concert venues across Europe and the USA. She is the laureate of the Gina Bachauer Young Artist Competition, Smetana Competition, Karl Czerny Competition, YAMAHA competition and over 30 first and special prizes at various international piano competitions.
She graduated in 2010 and completed the Master Piano Studies in 2011 at the Belgrade University, in the class of Professor Ninoslav Zivkovic. She has obtained her Postgraduate Degree (2015) and the Concert Musicus Diploma (2017) at the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Brussels, in the class of Professor Aleksandar Madzar, as well as Concert Musicus Chamber Music Program (2019) and Postgraduate Chamber Music DIploma (2021) at the Royal Flemish Conservatory, under Professor Thomas Dieltjens.
Sara has given numerous recitals and chamber music concerts at prestigious festivals in Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the USA.
As a soloist, she has performed with renowned orchestras such as Royal Flemish Conservatory Brussels Orchestra (Belgium), Cristianstad Symfoniker (Sweden), National Orchestra of Kharkov (Ukraine), Timisoara Symphony orchestra (Romania), the Zagreb Soloists (Liechtenstein, Croatia), National Radio Television Symphony Orchestra (Serbia), Stanislav Binicki Symphony Orchestra (Serbia), Chamber Orchestra “Ljubica Maric” (Serbia) and many others.
She graduated in 2010 and completed the Master Piano Studies in 2011 at the Belgrade University, in the class of Professor Ninoslav Zivkovic. She has obtained her Postgraduate Degree (2015) and the Concert Musicus Diploma (2017) at the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Brussels, in the class of Professor Aleksandar Madzar, as well as Concert Musicus Chamber Music Program (2019) and Postgraduate Chamber Music DIploma (2021) at the Royal Flemish Conservatory, under Professor Thomas Dieltjens.
Sara has given numerous recitals and chamber music concerts at prestigious festivals in Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the USA.
As a soloist, she has performed with renowned orchestras such as Royal Flemish Conservatory Brussels Orchestra (Belgium), Cristianstad Symfoniker (Sweden), National Orchestra of Kharkov (Ukraine), Timisoara Symphony orchestra (Romania), the Zagreb Soloists (Liechtenstein, Croatia), National Radio Television Symphony Orchestra (Serbia), Stanislav Binicki Symphony Orchestra (Serbia), Chamber Orchestra “Ljubica Maric” (Serbia) and many others.