Concert: Leuven University Choir

Leuven University Choir (Flanders, Belgium)

1969. One evening, somewhere in a room in Leuven (Flanders, Belgium), a handful of students are sitting together, hunched over a score. Someone’s giving up the tone. There is singing…

This is how the Leuven University Choir was born. The choir has been around for 55 years now, but we are by no means experiencing a midlife crisis! LUK grew up in the loving bosom of the university and several generations of students. The choir has grown to this extent, that it has not been able to enter an average room for a long time and the LUK has now become a household name, not only in the Leuven student world, but also far beyond. Eternally young in mind and heart, they still bend over scores, change their tune and sing with dedication. Conductor Kevin Hendrickx faces the challenge of keeping this youthful enthusiasm in check.

The musical bar of the choir, that represents the university and its traditions at official occasions, is high. But our choir is not only about excellence; it is also a great group of friends, with students from all departments. Alluding to the slogan of our Alma Mater, our motto is: “Discover the world, start with music”!

Kevin Hendrickx, musical director and conductor of the Leuven University Choir

Kevin Hendrickx studied piano (C. Baeten), music theory (C. van Looy) and choral conducting (G. Hendrix) at the music academy in Lier (Flanders, Belgium). In 2017, he completed his orchestral conducting training with Bart Piqueur and studied composition and conducting at the Ghent Conservatory with teachers including Kristiina Poska, Daan Janssens, Filip Rathé and Johan Duijck. Since the ‘23-’24 season he has been assistant conductor at the Flanders Symphony Orchestra (Ma Kristiina Poska).

In recent years, Kevin has worked with, among others, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra MAV, Youth Orchestra Saint Petersburg, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra da camera Fiorentina, orchestra and choir of the Bulgarian State Opera Stara Zagora, Nemø ensemble, SPECTRA ensemble, Orchestra and ensembles of the Royal Conservatory of Ghent, Man chester Camerata, Ensemble A, Artis Dulcedo Bruges Symphonic Orchestra and Ghent University Symphonic Orchestra.

Kevin was laureate of the London Classical Soloists Beethoven competition in 2017 and attended several masterclasses, including with Martin Sieghart, Alexander Polyanichko and Dejan Savić. In 2015 he founded the orchestra Continuo, which brings together alumni and staff of Ghent University and with whom he embarks on an adventurous journey.

He made his debut as an opera conductor in 2018 with La bohème (St. Petersburg). After this he collaborated in productions of Otello, Madame Butterfly, Tosca, Rigoletto and Don Pasquale (Stara Zagora), Idomeneo (Ghent), Suor Angelica (Ghent) and Dido & Aeneas (Ghent, Leuven).

As a choir conductor, Kevin is associated with the Leuven University Choir and the Roeselaars Chamber Choir. In addition, he collaborated with the Kammerchor Stuttgart, RNCM Chamber Choir, Manchester University Choir, Saevus, Vocaal Ensemble Reflection, Ghent University Choir, Choeur Universitaire de Liège, Chorale de la CIUP, Helicon chamber choir and many others. He attended master classes with David Hill, Frieder Bernius and Yuval Weinberg, among others.

In addition to his musical activities, Kevin received his PhD in science in 2018 and currently teaches physical chemistry at AP University of Applied Sciences.