Bart Watté was born in 1979 in Ghent (Belgium) and is one of the most versatile musicians of his generation. He graduated cum laude from the Lemmensinstituut School of Music in Leuven, Belgium. His most prominent clarinet teachers include Eddy Vanoosthuyse, Robert Spring, Howard Klug and Luis Rossi. He received further master classes from Thomas Friedli, Wenzel Fuchs and Anthony Pay, and trained as a symphonic conductor under Edmond Saveniers and Nick Ost.
He is principal clarinet in Belgium’s and most prominent and celebrated military band, the Royal Band of the Guides. As an orchestral and chamber musician, virtuoso soloist and conductor, he has performed in Belgium and abroad. He is also an energetic private teacher and clinician, passionate about passing on his skills and insights; to both amateur musicians and new generations of clarinetists that are seeking improvement and refinement of their clarinet playing. He is currently conductor of the clarinet ensemble Claricatesse.
As a composer, Watté’s style is firmly rooted in the classical/romantic traditions. However, his personal musical language is heavily influenced by film, folk, pop and electronic music. Following the successful first performances of his works, he decided to dedicate more of his time to composing and conducting new music.
Bart Watté plays Henri SELMER Paris Privilège clarinets and basset horn.
Photo credit: Laetitia Lecuyer / Henri SELMER Paris
