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Koen Kessels (born 1961) is a Belgian conductor and pianist. He is music director of The Royal Ballet and of Het Balletorkest, affiliated with the Dutch National Ballet.

Biography

Trained as a pianist, Kessels studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. He became a repetiteur and an assistant conductor at the Vlaamse Opera. He founded the music ensemble HERMES in 1998 and continues to serve as its artistic director. He has served as music director for the Belgian summer opera festival Zomeropera Alden Biesen.

Kessels became music director of Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2010. In 2015, he became music director of The Royal Ballet. In December 2023, Dutch National Ballet announced the appointment of Kessels as its next music director, which includes the posts of artistic director and chief conductor of Het Balletorkest, effective 1 August 2024. Kessels concluded his tenure as music director of Birmingham Royal Ballet on 30 June 2024.

Kessels is an honorary professor at Birmingham University, as well as artistic director of Inspiratum. He is also on staff of the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp.

References

1. ^ Jessica Salter (2015-11-21). "The world of Koen Kessels". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-05-20.
2. ^ Hanna Weibye (2017-05-31). "Koen Kessels: 'there's a joke in ballet we only have two tempi'". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
3. Kirkup, Sarah (2016-09-27). "'Working with contemporary composers is the main purpose of any company'". Gramophone. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
4. Christopher Morley (2010-01-22). "Koen Kessels picks up the baton at Birmingham Royal Ballet". Business Live. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
5. HERMES' own website mentions 2000 as the year of the ensemble's founding.
6. Shipman, Chris (2014-10-07). "Koen Kessels to succeed Barry Wordsworth as Music Director of The Royal Ballet — News — Royal Opera House". Roh.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-20.
7. "Koen Kessels to succeed Barry Wordsworth as Music Director of The Royal Ballet and Barry Wordsworth to become Principal Guest Conductor" (PDF) (Press release). The Royal Ballet. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
8. "Koen Kessels nieuwe muzikaal leider Het Nationale Ballet & artistiek leider & chef-dirigent Het Balletorkest" (Press release). Dutch National Ballet. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
9. "Paul Murphy announced as new Music Director" (Press release). Birmingham Royal Ballet. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-24.

External links

• Birmingham Royal Ballet page on Koen Kessels
• The Royal Ballet page on Koen Kessels
• Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, "I wanted to do this opera: conductor Koen Kessels about The Convert". 5 May 2022

• 1961 births
• Belgian male musicians
• Belgian male conductors (music)
• Living people
• 21st-century Belgian conductors (music)
• 21st-century Belgian male musicians