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Peter Verdonck

Belgian saxophonist and composer (born Sep 1, 1979 in Herentals). Peter Verdonck (°1979) started his saxophone studies with Mark Verdonck at the music academy of Turnhout, which he continued at the secondary school for music at the Heilig-Graf-Instituut in Turnhout with Mark Verdonck and Ann Swerts. After this he moved to Ghent to study at the Hogeschool Gent, department Conservatorium with Willy Demey. Peter also studied composition there with Lucien Posman and graduated in 2003 with highest honours for saxophone, chamber music and improvisation. In 2007 he also received his postgraduate diploma for Concert Soloist at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp where he studied saxophone with Hans de Jong. Peter also took masterclasses with Hans De Jong, Claude Delangle and Rasscher Saxophone Quartet. Peter is co-founder and saxophonist for Thelema Trio, a contemporary music ensemble that focusses on new music for clarinets, saxophones and piano. With this he recorded two CD’s of which the second was released by American label Innova Recordings. He’s the founder, composer, lead singer and tenor saxophonist of death metal outfit Wound Collector, who releases the first full-CD on 24 May 2018 via Profane Records. Since June 2012 he also performs regularly with his own balkan band De Pandoering. The Antwerp based organisation Champ d’Action often involves Peter in their contemporary and experimental programmes. Furthermore he’s a member of krautrock band Manngold de Cobre, with this group a first CD was recorded in the summer of 2013, and improvisation collective FUNDAMENT. Peter also record with a.o. The Rhythm Junks and Va Fan Fahre. In 2014 Peter began to compose his first musical “Muizenissen”. In May 2015 this was performed by Kon. Kath. Fanfare De Kunstliefde from Melsele and pupils from primary school De Toren from Melsele. June 2018 marks the debut of his second musical “Jungle Koorts”. These groups, ensembles and project have taken him to concert halls and festivals all over Belgium, as well as the Netherlands, Slovakia, Poland, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, Peru, USA, Japan and China. He also gave workshops and masterclasses in a.o. Lima and Arequipa, Peru, and the University of Houston, Texas, Oklahoma University, University of Central Missouri, USA. As a teacher of saxophone and chamber music Peter is active at the Heilig Graf Institute in Turnhout and the Academie Wijnegem Schilde Zoersel. As a composer Peter mainly writes chamber music for various line-ups. A number of his works have been recorded by a.o. Thelema Trio, Ambrassband, Aardbeefman and Aranis.