DIRK DE CALUWE

Dirk De Caluwe (Lokeren - Belgium, 1956)

Dirk De Caluwe studied flute, music theory and conducting at the Royal Conservatories of Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels. He later went on to further his studies in numerous national and international masterclasses.

Since 1978 he has been a soloist flute-piccolo for the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra where he has worked with famous conductors such as Sir Neville Mariner, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Chailly, Gerd Albrecht, Rudolf Barshai, Yoel Levi, Tadaki Otaka, Giancarlo Guerrero, Martin Brabbins and many others.

Early in his professional life he began to combine his work as a soloist and orchestra musician with a career as a conductor. He has conducted classical repertoire, concert opera performances, contemporary music and soundtracks with orchestras such as the Flemish Radio Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Brussels Festival Orchestra, The Prague Philharmonic and even the renowned London Philharmonic Orchestra.

He has made his mark in the music world. Indeed, he conducted the world premieres of two important Flemish musicals: Tintin and Daens.
He is also a popular guest conductor and has conducted many of the "better" wind orchestras in Belgium and abroad.

From 1987 to 2007 he was conductor of the Royal Wind Band Ste Cecilia Zele, still one of the leading orchestras in Belgium. He continues to work very closely with the most prominent Belgian composers such as Jan Van der Roost, Jan Hadermann, Dirk Brosse and Bert Appermont, who rely on him to bring their new works to life.

Since 1992 he has been Professor of Wind Band Conducting and Artistic Director of the orchestra at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp.

Today he is musical director of the Royal Wind Band Schelle, the Limburg Symphony Youth Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Brass Band Festival.

Besides playing, teaching and conducting, Dirk De Caluwé is also an active advisor, adjudicator and lecturer for the Flemish Wind Band Association (Vlamo).

As a performer he has collaborated in making 80 CD and DVD recordings for the Naxos label, Discover, Beriato, De Haske, World Wind Music, Topkapi / Universal, Sony and Studio100.