Stefan Prins

After graduating as an engineer at the age of 23, Stefan Prins (Belgium, 1979) started to study fulltime piano and composition at the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp, Belgium, where he obtained his Masters degree in Composition magna cum laude. Concurrently, he studied “Technology in Music” at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and “Sonology” at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague (2004-2005; The Netherlands). Additionally he studied “Philosophy of Culture” and “Philosophy of Technology” at the University of Antwerp, attended composition masterclasses with a.o. Chaya Czernowin, Steven Tagasuki, Enno Poppe & Georges Aperghis and participated in live-electronics workshops with a.o. Orm Finnendahl (Musikhochschule Freiburg). Since September 2011 Stefan divides his time between Europe and the USA where he pursues a PhD in composition at Harvard University under the guidance of Chaya Czernowin.

As a composer he received several important awards in Belgium and abroad, such as the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis 2010 for composition (Darmstadt), a Staubach Honorarium (2009, Darmstadt) and the International “Impuls Composition Award” (Graz, 2009). In 2012 the Union of Belgian Music Journalists elected him “Young Belgian Musician of the Year”.

His compositions have been played world wide by a.o. Klangforum Wien, Champ d’Action, Nadar Ensemble, Ictus Ensemble, Nikel Ensemble, Ensemble Mosaik, Ensemble Dal Niente, Ensemble Recherche, Zwerm Electric Guitar Quartet, the Belgian Chamber Orchestra, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Matthias Koole, Tom Pauwels, Mark Knoop, Stephane Ginsburgh, Séverine Ballon a.o. on festivals such as the Donaueschinger Musiktage, the Darmstadt Ferienkurse, Wittener Tage für Neue Musik, Festival Musica Strasbourg, Ars Musica, Novembermusic, Transit Festival, Time Canvas, Musica Electronica Nova, Luzerne Festival, Tzlil Meudcan Festival, Impuls Festival, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Musica Viva Festival, Magister Ludi Festival, Ultima Festival. In 2012 Sub Rosa released a monographic double CD on his music.

His preferred color is blood-red.

Last updated: August 27, 2014