Dieter Staelens (°Kortrijk, 1973) started his music education at Lemmensinstituut Leuven in 1992. In 1995 he qualified as a music teacher in secondary education. One year later he graduated as a Bachelor in the field of Music (option music theory) and in 2000 he obtained his Master’s degree (option choral conducting). During his education he took exams for choral conducting, music theory, harmony and polyphony. Dieter Staelens also studied singing techniques with educationalists Dina Grossberger and Dirk Snellings. In addition Dieter took master classes with Peter Erdéi (H) and Timothy Brown (GB). On ‘The second International Competition for Young Choral Conductors’ (2002, Tallin, Estonia) he pushed through to the semifinals. In June 2008 he obtained his Master’s degree in the ‘Continued Music Education: Choral Conducting’ with Kurt Bikkembergs.
In 2000 he founded the Leuven chamber choir Camerata Aetas Nova, which won the prestigious award ‘Choir of the Year 2008-2009’. From 1999 until 2015 Dieter was a choral conductor at the Catholic University Leuven. First he led the LUK (Leuvens Universitair Koor), then he was the conductor of the Capella Academica, the university staff choir. In 2011 he founded the Ladies Choir Arion. Currently he’s also conducting Canzonetta (Kessel-Lo). He was a guest conductor for the Brussels Cathedral Choir, ‘Vlaams Radiokoor’ and the choir of the Flemish Opera.
At present Dieter is a choral conductor and a music teacher at Heilig-Hartinstituut Heverlee and he teaches conducting courses on a regular basis. (24/03/2024)
(Translation: Annelies Verdurmen)
In 2000 he founded the Leuven chamber choir Camerata Aetas Nova, which won the prestigious award ‘Choir of the Year 2008-2009’. From 1999 until 2015 Dieter was a choral conductor at the Catholic University Leuven. First he led the LUK (Leuvens Universitair Koor), then he was the conductor of the Capella Academica, the university staff choir. In 2011 he founded the Ladies Choir Arion. Currently he’s also conducting Canzonetta (Kessel-Lo). He was a guest conductor for the Brussels Cathedral Choir, ‘Vlaams Radiokoor’ and the choir of the Flemish Opera.
At present Dieter is a choral conductor and a music teacher at Heilig-Hartinstituut Heverlee and he teaches conducting courses on a regular basis. (24/03/2024)
(Translation: Annelies Verdurmen)
