Sebastiaan van Steenberge

Biography

Education 

Sebastiaan van Steenberge studied at the Luca School of Arts in Louvain and received the Master’s and Specialization degrees for organ in the class given by Peter Pieters. Under Luc Van Hove he obtained the Master degree for composition and in September 2010 he also completed a Master in Orchestral Direction in Edmond Saveniers’ class.   

During his education Sebastiaan van Steenberge also had other musical mentors: Reitze Smits (improvisation), Frans Geysen (analyses and serial techniques), Christian Vereecke (fugue) en Kurt Bikkembergs (choral direction and choral composition). During his academic years he took part in multiple masterclasses at home and abroad, such as at the European Academy (Bonn), the Royal Opera House (London) and Bretton Hall University (Leeds). In 1992 he was a Laureate of the National Music Competition of Belgium (organ) and shortly following this he was invited to Germany for the series “Musikalische Talente Europas”. Together with prof. Hedwig Bilgram a first CD was produced, recorded in Bonn and Keulen.  

Composer

His first compositions date back to his student years. Usually these were composed as an assignment for class and recorded on CD: Missa Pueri Cantores (commissioned by Abbey Keizersberg, Louvain), Intemptata Nites (commissioned by Royal Ghent Oratory Society), Samadamas (commissioned by HRD, Antwerpen), L’Amour de moy (commissioned by University Choir Louvain), Ave Regina Caelorum (commissioned by Capella di Voce), Temporale (commissioned by the European Music Festival, Neerpelt). 

At the label Montafagorum a recording was produced of In Pace Frivola, a 17-part piece (commissioned by the monastic magazine De Kovel) for a capella choir. This special recording was performed by the ensemble Musa Horta with Peter Dejans conducting. In 2016 the oratory, Meester R, was composed for and performed by the vocal ensemble Reflection with Patrick Windmolders conducting. Van Steenberge is on the executive board of Koor&Stem vzw and is also chairman of its music committee.  

Teacher and Kapellmeister 

Since April 2000 Sebastiaan van Steenberge has been connected to the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp as kapellmeister. He combines this task with his other assignments as a teacher of Musical Education at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege in Antwerp and his activities as a composer and organist. 

Choral works (selection)

• La noche sin estrellas (2012), for SATB and piano, published by Koor&Stem.
• B(lijf) (2018), for S and piano, on a text by Reine De Pelseneer, published by Euprint, 2018
• Ahoy (2017), for S and piano, on a text by Reine De Pelseneer, published by Euprint, 2017.
• Vivat, crescat, floreat (2017), for SSA and piano, published by Euprint, 2017.
• Heart's Music (2018), for SSA and piano, published by Euprint, 2018.
• L'amour de moy, for SATB and piano, published by Koor&Stem.
• In Pace Frivola, for SATB, cd available via Euprint.
• Meester R, 2016, for SATB and chamber orchestra, cd available via Vocaal Ensemble Reflection