Alain Craens

Biography

Training

Alain Craens (Kapellen, born in 1957) chose the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Antwerp and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels after secondary art education. He obtained First Prizes in composition, solfège, harmony, counterpoint, fugue, oboe, English horn, chamber music, as well as diplomas in music analysis, theory of form and pedagogy. In 2005, he obtained the diploma Master of Music, majoring in composition, with the highest distinction.

Lecturer and director

Between 1978 and 1998, he taught oboe, chamber music and harmony at the Municipal Music Conservatory of Leuven, the State Academy of Antwerp and the Municipal Music Academy of Antwerp (Ekeren department). In the latter academy, he was acting director from 1993 to 1996. He teaches music notation, composition and arrangement and coordinates the AMV courses at the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Antwerp. Since 2001, he has also held the position of artistic director.

Oboist

As a performing musician, he has been oboe soloist with the orchestra of the Flemish Chamber Opera and the Flemish Chamber Orchestra and has performed in Belgium and abroad with various ensembles and orchestras.

Prizes

He is a much sought-after juror at composition competitions and festivals. He is also a member of the advisory committee of the international music festival in Neerpelt and sits on the board of directors of several renowned ensembles and non-profit organizations. During his studies, Alain Craens was awarded the Paul Gilson Prize for harmony and the A. De Vleeshouwer Prize for composition. He was also awarded the same prize in May 1985 for his composition Divertimento for oboe, clarinet and bassoon. Additionally, in 1989 and 1991, he received the Cantabile Prize for piano composition.

Composition commissions

Alain Craens, a member of Sabam and CeBeDeM, has received various composition commissions (including the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Philharmonic, the Beethoven Academy, Emanon, I Solisti Del Vento, VRO-VRK, the International Music Festival in Neerpelt, Axion Classics, the Flanders Festival, etc.) and his works are created and performed by renowned musicians and ensembles. Many compositions are on CD (a.o. labels Arsis Classics, Phaedra, De Haske,...) or were recorded by radio Klara. His works are also regularly performed abroad (including the Netherlands, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan and USA).

Choral work (selection)

• Mark groet 's morgens de dingen for SSA, published at Euprint
• Opposites for SATB and bassoon/bass clarinet, to be obtained from the composer (commissioned work of the VRK)
• Friendship for SAB, written for EMJ 2016.