Koen Vits

Biography

Education

After five years of violin and two years of organ at the academies of Geel and Westerlo, Koen Vits went to Leuven to study piano, violin and choral conducting (with Kurt Bikkembergs) at the  Lemmens Institute in Leuven (LUCA School of Arts). He followed a teacher training and obtained his Masters in Music in the composition department in 2016 (also trained by Kurt Bikkembergs).

Choral conductor

After obtaining his master's degree in choral conducting, Vits followed master classes and workshops. For example, since January 2014 he has been following vocal coaching according to the Lichtenberger method with Livia Cuypers, and in October of the same year he took part in a masterclass in Maastricht with Studium Chorale led by Daniel Reuss and Hans Leenders. He attended workshops and masterclasses with Peter Broadbent, Jo McNally and Jannet Lincé.

Koen Vits conducts and conducted various Flemish choirs, such as the Leuven University Choir (2014-2020), the Terpander male choir, the Capella Beatae Mariae ad Lacum in Tienen, the affiliated CBM Youth choir (which he founded himself) and the Leuven choir Tourdion. He also led the large project choirs of KOOR XL during the 2018 and 2019 editions. Vits has been teaching choral conducting in Tienen and Mol since September 2016.

Composer

As a composer, Vits mainly writes choral works. He composed the  music for two short films Little Ryan and Cornelis. In his vocal music, Vits likes to be inspired by Flemish folk music: e.g. Kind’ren zwijgt (for two voices) and Een sneeuwwit vogeltje (for SATB choir and strings).

Koor kontra Korona

In March 2020, Vits launched the project Koorona: Koor kontra Korona, in which he encouraged singers from all over Belgium and beyond to form a virtual choir in times of social distancing. The singers were expected to study the song If ye love me by Thomas Tallis in one week and to film and submit their part. The result was a virtual choir. In April 2020, the project was continued with Koorona 2.0. with Light of my Soul by Robert Lucas Pearsall (1795-1856).

Choral works (selection)

• Kind’ren zwijgt, SA, edited by Euprint, 2014.
• Een sneeuwwit vogeltje, SATB and strings, edited by Euprint, 2014.
• Ave Maria – Wees gegroet, SABar and organ, edited by Euprint, 2016.
• Maria door een doornwoud trad, SABar, 2012-2013.
• Viri Galilaei, SATB, 2012.
• Vier miniaturen op tekst van Paul Van Ostaijen, SATB, 2013.
• Requiem ad tres voces inaequales, SABar, 2012.