Klaas Coulembier
composer
date of birth: 12.07.1984
musicologist . graphic designer. composer
Klaas Coulembier (b. 1984, Ypres, Belgium) is a Belgian composer.
At a young age, Coulembier joined the local 'Ypriana' Wind Band, where he discovered the rich sound world of the wind band. He studied musicology at the University of Leuven, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 2012 and was a postdoctoral research fellow until 2018. He is currently [2023] active as a freelance musicologist, composer and graphic designer.
Dr. Coulembier has composed several works since 2007, mainly for Symphonic Wind Band. His composition Resilience (2015) won the Red Note New Music Festival Composition Contest in Illinois (U.S.) in 2020, which led to the American premiere of the composition. Other notable performances include those of the Band of the Royal Air Force (UK), the Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides. The latter also performed his composition Tramontana (2018) under the baton of maestro Dirk Brossé.
In recent years, Klaas has directed his activities more towards composing new pieces and promoting his music through his own publishing label, Ypress Digital Music Editions. In 2018, he was commissioned to compose the compulsory piece for the Flemish Open Wind Band Competition by Vlamo (The Garden of Earthly Delights). Since then, he has been composing mainly on commission for various orchestras. His style combines features of the vibrant wind band tradition in the Low Countries with elements of contemporary classical music.