Wouter Valvekens is a Belgian concert pianist. He has been invited to perform on different occasions throughout Europe, for solo recitals and with orchestras such as the Chamber Orchestra of Mechelen, the Euregio Youth Orchestra and the St. John’s Chamber Orchestra in Maidenhead. Apart from his solo career, Wouter Valvekens is also a very active chamber musician. He is a founding member of the 'Trio Aries', which won the prestigious Supernova Chamber Music Competition 2020. The ensemble had its debut in the Henri Le Boeuf-Hall of BOZAR Brussels. He is also a founding member of the 'Werther Piano Quartet', which is supported by the Mozart Gesellschaft Dortmund. The ensemble gave its debut in the Konzerthaus Dortmund in 2018, to critical acclaim.
Wouter Valvekens has been actively participating in numerous international competitions. In 2016 Wouter Valvekens won the 3rd prize in the César Franck International Piano Competition. In 2019 he won the 1st prize and 2 special prizes at the International Paços Premium Piano Competition in Paços de Brandão, Portugal. Wouter Valvekens won the 2nd prize at the Oeiras International Piano Competition in Oeiras, Portugal in 2021.
Wouter Valvekens received his first piano lessons at age 6 at the Conservatory of Mechelen, where he was studying with Rita Degraeuwe from 2004 to 2014. From 2014 to 2018, Wouter studied with Polina Leschenko at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. In 2017, he obtained the degree of Bachelor in Music magna cum laude. From 2018 to 2020 he studied with Ian Fountain at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he obtained his Postgraduate degree in 2020. His studies at the Academy were generously supported by the Winifred Christie Trust Award, a scholarship award from Inspiratum vzw and a Senior Award from the Hattori Foundation. Since 2020 Wouter Valvekens is studying historical keyboard instruments with Piet Kuijken at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.
In 2021, Wouter Valvekens was a scholar for the Imogen Cooper Music Trust, which generously made it possible to work intensively with Imogen in Eygalières, France, and offered recital opportunities in France and the United Kingdom.
He has worked with András Schiff, Imogen Cooper, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Richard Goode, Klaus Hellwig, Frank Braley amongst others in various masterclasses.