Biography: Christophe Bursens  &  Claviarte

Christophe Bursens obtained his master degrees of both organ and harpsichord at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Professors organ: Luk Bastiaens and Jacques Van Oortmerssen. Professors harpsichord: Menno Van Delft and Kris Verhelst.
Laureate of the competitions:
  • National Music Contest ("Pro Civitate")
  • “International Sweelinck Organ Competition” Amsterdam
Before the foundation of Claviarte, he was active as a music teacher in various music schools (organ, harpsichord, music history).
In addition, he was city organist in Sint-Niklaas for 32 years.
He was part of the Klavecimbelvereniging (Harpsichord Association), organizing masterclasses, workshops, expositions, concerts and competitions. He was also co-founder of the Organ Festival Sint-Niklaas.
Christophe performs as a soloist (organ and harpsichord) throughout Europe.
As an accompanist and continuo player, he worked with various ensembles and choirs, among others on radio and television and for some CD recordings. As a harpsichordist and organist, he also contributed to the Opera Ballet Flanders.
He realized a solo CD album on te historical Bremser organ in the chapel of the Elzenveld in Antwerp and, together with his 3 collegues city organists, a CD on the Flentrop organ in the St-Nicolaaskerk in Sint-Niklaas. Both CD’s commissioned by 'Het Orgel in Vlaanderen'.

           
                                                                                                             
CLAVIARTE - Christophe has been active for many years in the instrument rental business, as a harpsichord builder, repairer, restorer, voicer and tuner.
World famous historical instruments of high value being revoiced by Christophe are:
  • Mattia di Gand 1685 (Tagliavini collection Bologna, Italy)
  • Joannes Couchet 1646 (Musical Instruments Museum Brussels)
  • Joannes Daniël Dulcken 1747 (Museum Vleeshuis Antwerp)

The keyboard instruments he has collected throughout his career, are on the big stages all year round:
Bozar Brussels, deSingel Antwerp, Concertgebouw Bruges, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, de Bijloke Ghent, Flagey Brussels, MAfestival Bruges, Laus Polyphoniae, Festival van Vlaanderen, Klarafestival, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Beethovenfest Bonn, Thüringer Bachwochen, Musikfest Bremen, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Kölner Philharmonie, KKL Luzern, Philharmonie de Paris, Midis Minimes Brussel, etcetera...