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As a pianist and a composer, Marc MATTHYS occupies a unique place in the world of Music. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of his birthplace Ghent. He graduated there in piano and chamber music, and a few firts prizes in piano accompaniment, counterpoint and fugue.
He made himself known as an extremely versatile musician in genres as diverse as classical music, jazz and pop. As such, he cooperated with the likes of Neeme Järvi, Walter Boeykens, Frédéric Devreese, Aga Winska, Toots Thielemans, Eddie Daniels, Jo Lemaire and Shirley Bassey (DVD-recording).
Matthys is the head of the Conservatory of Kortrijk and a teacher at the Hogeschool Gent (Royal Conservatory). He also has been a visiting professor at Bowling Green University (Ohio, USA).
He has been awarded several distinctions, among which the Grand Prix Humanitaire de France. Matthys was a laureate of competitions such as Tenuto 1979, Europ' Jazz Contest and the Jazz Concours of Dunkerque, The National Competion for Jazz-themes 2002 (BAP-SABAM), The first KLARA (Belgian National Radio)-composition contest 2005, touring Europe (Oslo, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Dublin, Essen…) Russia (Moscow and St Petersburg) and the United States (Michigan, Ohio) with concerts and performances of his own compositions.
His main compositions, such as "Contrasts", "4 Impressions", Reflections" and "Mosaic" for soloists and symphony orchestra can be counted as "fusion" of different styles like classical, jazz and pop music.
Marc MATTHYS has given concerts for various radio and television stations (RTBF, BRTN, VARA, NCRV, EBU) all over Europe and beyond.
Appearances a.o. with classical musicians like Walter BOEYKENS, Rudolf WERTHEN, Nobert NOZY, Gaby VAN RIET, jazzmen like SADI, Toots THIELEMANS, Ali RYERSON, Eddie DANIELS, Rob MADNA, pop stars such as Shirly BASSEY, Randy CRAWFORD.
His compositions have been recorded on CD by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders, The National Orchestra of Belgium, The VRO Philharmonic Orchestra, I Fiamminghi, Arco Baleno, Big Band Sound, Convivium Musicum, Viviane Spanoghe, Toots Thielemans and many others.
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