Stephan Vermeersch (b. 1965, Belgium) – clarinets · saxophones · composer · improviser · educator

Stephan Vermeersch is internationally recognized as a versatile performer, improviser, and composer, active across classical, contemporary, world, and electro-acoustic music. His work is known for its boundary-crossing approach, integrating diverse cultural influences and collaborations with other art forms including visual arts, dance, film, architecture, literature, and theatre.

As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed on a wide range of clarinets and saxophones at concerts and festivals in over 45 countries across Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, Russia, the USA, Canada, Armenia, Pakistan, India, Japan, China, and Mongolia.

His artistic motto as a composer and improviser is:

“What lies beyond the border: a quest for new, captivating music for a wide audience – far-reaching and enriching!”

Stephan is an active educator in Belgium and the Netherlands, teaching clarinet, saxophone, chamber music, music theory, and composition. He is widely respected for his innovative teaching philosophies:

“Learning music brain efficiently” and
“Musical Expression: the Art of Expressive Playing” – a deep, pre-digital approach that emphasizes interpretation, phrasing, articulation, sound, and color, rooted in the art of listening before the age of LPs, cassettes, CDs, YouTube, or streaming.

He is frequently invited worldwide to give masterclasses and workshops on a wide range of musical and artistic topics.

Professional roles and affiliations:
– Past President (2013–2023) of the European Clarinet Association
– Former International Representative Board Director, International Clarinet Association (2013–2017)
– Former National Representative ICA Belgium (2018–2023)

Endorsed Artist:
Selmer Paris, D’Addario Woodwinds, Gleichweit, Blashaus, Silverstein, Atelier Bulgheroni, JLV, Lefreque, WoodWindDesign