Biography

Matthias Nauwelaerts (born 1995) performed at numerous solo and chamber music concerts and festivals in European countries Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Austria, Croatia and Poland and appeared live on the Polish National Radio.

He performed in Sinfonia Varsovia in Warsaw, Blagoje Bersa in Zagreb, Piano’s Maene, MIM in Brussels, the Arte Amanti Chamber Music Festival, Theater Heerlen in The Netherlands and performed the Trout Quintet in Schubert’s own birth house in Vienna. Matthias has also played concerts commissioned by Rotary Club, Lions Club and the Belgian Embassy in Zagreb (HR).

After graduating from art highschool in Leuven with highest distinction for piano and organ, Nauwelaerts started his higher education at LUCA School of Arts in Leuven with Jan Vermeulen. He played his graduation recital on a period piano Érard from 1840 and graduated in 2018 magna cum laude. Matthias distinguished himself, with merit, winning the graduation prize ‘Student of the year’ at LUCA School of Arts. He holds master’s degrees in piano, chamber music and pedagogy.

He refined his artistry in London and Cologne with pedagogues Christopher Elton (UK) and Vassily Lobanov (D) and pursued his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (AT) with Wolfgang Watzinger. Thereafter he perfected his skills at the Centre Musicale Eduardo Del Pueyo with Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden.

Because of his interest in historical performances, Nauwelaerts followed courses fortepiano in Radziejowice (PL) with the renowned fortepianists Kristian Bezuidenhout and Alexei Lubimov. He specialized himself in period piano performance. Thereafter he received international attention being selected to participate in the 1st International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments 2018 in Warsaw where he played pianos from the 19th century.

Matthias became laureate of numerous international competitions, including Belfius Classics, International EPTA competition in Néthen, Concours Charlier, Concours de Piano de Liège, Stephan De Jonghe competition and Agustín Aponte International Competition in Tenerife.

Matthias was invited as a guest speaker to present a lecture to the Federal University of Para School of Music in Brazil on the subject of ‘The Pleyel fortepiano of the 19th century’. For the celebration of 30 years diplomatic relations between Belgium and Croatia, Matthias was invited by the Belgian Embassy to perform a recital in the Blagoje Bersa concert hall in Zagreb (HR).

He refined his piano playing in various masterclasses and received personal advices from Alexander Bonduriansky, Angela Hewitt, Boris Giltburg, Ewa Kupiec, André De Groote, Alexei Lubimov, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Claude Françaix, i.a.