Ivan Meylemans

Ivan Meylemans

Conductor

Ivan Meylemans is managed by Leontien van der Vliet.

Contact:
E: leontien.vandervliet@interartists.nl
T: +31 6 5 24 68 707

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Belgian conductor Ivan Meylemans, is currently Chief Conductor of the Zeeland Orchestra in Middelburg (Netherlands) and Chief Conductor of the Harmonie St. Michaël of Thorn. He is Professor Orchestral Conducting and conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of one of the finest conservatory’s in Belgium: LUCA School of Arts, based in Leuven. In 2020 he is appointed Professor Orchestral Conducting at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague.

As a guest conductor Ivan Meylemans has worked with major orchestras in Europe including: The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, National Orchestra of Belgium, Flemish Symphony Orchestra as well as the Dortmund Philharmoniker, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Danish Opera Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden/Freiburg, National Orchestra of Belgium, The Gdánsk Philharmonic, the Rheinische Philharmonie and Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg. In Asia, Ivan conducted The Tapei Symphony Orchestra and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2012 he made his opera debut at Opera Zuid, with Jules Massenet’s Manon. Public and press were unanimously enthusiastic and Ivan Meylemans was re-invited the next two seasons to conduct Carmen – Bizet and Die Fledermaus – Johann Strauss jr.

Ivan Meylemans studied trombone, percussion and piano at the conservatories of Leuven and Ghent and orchestral conducting at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. As trombone soloist he has won many national and international music competitions. From 1992-1994 Meylemans was solo trombonist of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Belgian Radio and Television (BRT). From 1994 to 2007 he was solo trombonist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (KCO) in Amsterdam.

In 2002 Meylemans won the international conducting competition "Vakhtang Jordania" in Kharkov (Ukraine) and in 2001 he won the third and public award of the "Donatella Flick Conducting Competition" in London. From 2007 to 2012 he was chief conductor with "Het Kamerorkest" in Bruges.

2007 marked a major turning point in Ivan Meylemans’ career; he decided to end his 13-year career as a trombone soloist with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to fully dedicate his time to his advancing career as a conductor. He became assistant of Mariss Jansons, chief-conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and rejoined this orchestra on all their major European, American and Asiatic tours. Meylemans also assisted other renowned conductors like Herbert Blomstedt and Markus Stenz. He has conducted this orchestra on several occasions, among others in a concert for the crowning celebrations of the Dutch King Willem Alexander in April 2013.

In 2005 Ivan was awarded the ‘Prix de Salon’. This prize resulted in a first full-CD recording “BRASS” with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Brass (RCO Brass) followed by a second CD “BRASS TOO” released on the orchestra’s own record label.

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Reviews

“I was impressed by his technical ability, his powers of communication to the orchestra, his natural authority and the clarity of his musical ideas.”

— Bernard Haitink

“Warmte komt van de hoorns en eufonia (tuba-achtige orkestreuzen). De grootte van de trompetgroep maakt dat uit die hoek soms ijzige stormen komen opzetten, zeker wanneer in de symfonie oorlogstroepen hun messen slijpen. Dirigent Ivan Meylemans gaf ook de tedere klanken van harp en klokkenspel alle ruimte. Het expressief zingende Brabant Koor wist hij op te zwepen tot een stampende, scanderende menigte die met keien in de vuist hard ketsende geluiden voortbracht. Mooi dat hij het op andere plekken terugbracht tot een intiem zingend kamerkoor.”

— De Volkskrant, Biëlla Luttmer

“Chapeau for HZO and conductor Ivan Meylemans
The Zeeuws Orkest gave three performances in one concert, three times in one day. And three times for a well-filled auditorium. Chapeau for HZO and conductor Ivan Meylemans. The programme was attractive. All sections of the orchestra were covered and the audience was given a demonstration of the possibilities of all instruments. The choice of compositions resulted in many flavours and pleasant combinations. The stage was extended, the one and a half meter was respected. Brass, woodwinds and small symphonic orchestra performed one after the other.

The brass players were the first to be addressed. Former trombonist Ivan Meylemans had his musicians shave high summits. Especially in the “Gadfly suite” of Shostakovich. The contribution of the percussion created a special tension. All the characteristics of Shostakovich’s music came out in this work: the threatening atmosphere, reminiscent of the war and marching military columns, dancing moments, sometimes cynical sometimes full of humour, subdued phrases and beautiful melodies.
Then it was the turn of the woodwind players who, with the Petite Symphony for nine horns by Gounod, brought about a climax. In this work of Gounod every note sings. There was a good response to each other, making the many melody lines smooth and perfect. In the Andante cantabile, the lilting melody, first performed by the flute, was cleverly repeated by the oboe, while the other instruments provided a rippling accompaniment. Triumphant horns in the Scherzo and an almost heroic sounding, rhythmically strong finale confirmed how enthusiastically and passionately this music was performed.”

— PZC - Jeanette Vergouwen (Sep 2020)

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