Biography
I studied jazz drums at the Royal Conservatorium of Antwerp. During and after my studies, I enrolled in several masterclasses for drums and percussion in Belgium and abroad; Berklee Summer school in Italy with Ron Savage, West-African percussion in Senegal/Mali/… with Adama Dramé, Mamady Keita, DIOP percussion family, Rainer Polak in Bayreuth (Germany). Nowadays I am mainly active in HIJAZ, KABOON & my own band BRASSDRUM. I used to teach drums & percussion classes at Academies in Flanders for more than 10 years. In 2007 I founded the percussion school CLAC (w/ Bart Van Aken). Since 2015 I am artistic director of Academie Hoboken (departments Music, Drama & Dance).
I enjoy working as a freelance musician/teacher in schools and giving percussion workshops (djembe, conga, cajon, you name it… ) in Belgium and abroad.
Today I am a passionate believer in the power of education through arts. Based on my extensive experience in day schools & academies, I strongly believes that investing in arts as a kid, youngster or adult contributes to a better life, both for the individual (Everyone is an artist, Joseph Beuys once said, no?) as well for society as a whole in this times.
“Showing music on stage is nice, but being submerged in the creative process is close to heaven!”
