Raf De Keninck, born in 1973 in Duffel, Belgium, is a musician with a remarkable and multifaceted career. He pursued his studies at the Royal Music Conservatory of Antwerp under the guidance of the renowned clarinetist Walter Boeykens. During his academic journey, he was profoundly inspired by esteemed mentors such as Ivo Lybeert, Raymond Dils, Jan Guns, Theo Mertens, and Leo Verheyen. In 1998, Raf achieved an Academic Master Degree in clarinet, bass clarinet, and chamber music, graduating with the highest distinction and a specialization certificate. That same year, he also earned his final master’s diploma in Symphonic Wind Band Conducting, achieving great distinction under the mentorship of Dirk De Caluwé.
Awards and Achievements
Raf has earned widespread recognition for his remarkable contributions to chamber music, receiving numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. Early milestones include the Dexia Classics Award in 1992, followed by the BAP-Sabam Prize and the Willem Pelemans Prize in 1997. His talent and dedication have been celebrated in both national and international competitions, with notable achievements such as laureate of the Orpheus Prize in the Soloist Category in 1997, and the José-Vigneront Chamber Music Competition in 1998. Further highlights include distinctions at the National Chamber Music Competition in Almere (2005) and the International Conductor Competition in Kerkrade, where he placed fifth in 2005. He also reached the semi-finals of the Gaetano Zinetti International Chamber Music Competition in Verona in 2006.
In recognition of his dedication to Flemish music, Raf received the prestigious Fuga Trophy in 2014, awarded by the Belgian Union of Composers.
Performance and Collaboration
As a clarinettist, Raf has performed with prestigious ensembles and orchestras, including the Beethoven Academy, I Solisti del Vento, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, and Champ d'Action.
He performed as a soloist with the Walter Boeykens Clarinet Choir and premiered the clarinet concerto IK, composed by Greek composer Dimitris Andrikopoulos, at the Festival of Flanders in 2004. In 2019, he played the clarinet solo in the world premiere of Tanstaafl by Frank Nuyts, accompanied by the CASCO PHIL Orchestra during the Festival of Flanders in Ghent.
Throughout his career, Raf has brought dozens of new works to life, many of which are featured on radio recordings and CD productions. His chamber music performances have been widely acclaimed and include live broadcasts on Belgium's KLARA radio and the Netherlands' Radio 4. Memorable highlights include his solo performance during KLARA in the City of Geel in 2006 and a 2005 broadcast from Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw with Trio Energico.
Raf has performed in several countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, England, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, Japan, China, and Cyprus, among others.
As passionate advocate of interdisciplinary collaborations, Raf has established a long-standing partnership with composer and visual artist George De Decker. Together, they explore the intersections of visuals, concepts, and sound, culminating in numerous performances and a solo CD, Carnets de Voyage.
Since 2002, he has been a member of Trio Energico, a clarinet, violin, and piano ensemble that has captivated audiences in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. A standout moment for the trio was their live performance and broadcast from Amsterdam's prestigious Royal Concertgebouw.
Artistic Leadership
For 15 years, Raf De Keninck served as the artistic leader of the renowned Emanon Ensemble, leaving an indelible mark on the Flemish music scene. With over 100 world premieres performed at prestigious festivals and featured in live broadcasts, his influence is both profound and far-reaching. Notable collaborations include the Festival of Flanders, the UNESCO World Festival, RAI, CANVAS, and TRT.
Raf's connection with wind bands began at an early age and has remained a cornerstone of his musical journey. At just 15 years old, he took his first steps as a conductor, a role he has since refined and expanded. While he explored chamber music and symphonic repertoire, Over the years, he has served as the permanent chief conductor for numerous orchestras in both the Netherlands and Flanders. His reputation as a skilled and passionate conductor has also led to guest appearances with orchestras in France, Spain, Portugal, China, and Japan.
Educational Contributions
From 2010 to 2012, Raf taught at Fontys University of Fine and Performing Arts, where he coordinated chamber music, and was professor bass clarinet, and conducting.. As Director of Music at Fontys (2012–2020), he laid the foundation for a radical overhaul of the Tilburg Conservatory. He developed a new educational vision that is attuned to the needs of the modern, fast-changing world. This vision culminated in the Academy of Music and Performing Arts, an international course dedicated to educating tomorrow’s musicians and featuring collaboration in ensembles as well as interdisciplinary art.
Current Roles
Since 2019, Raf has been appointed as an Executive Board Member at the prestigious Design Academy Eindhoven. Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE) is one of the world’s leading design schools. The academy trains designers who proceed to make their mark on the future and has done so for over 75 years. It is recognized for its forward-thinking and renowned professors and alumni, who have made great advances in the design field. It is currently home to a community of many nationalities and cultures. Design Academy Eindhoven is a University of the Arts that is part of the Universities of Applied Sciences, offering both BA and MA degrees, specialized in training students in different design perspectives to produce critical and socially engaged designers.
Raf De Keninck serves as a judge on the panels of various organizations including KNMO, BBM, VLAMO, and the European Music Festival for Young People at Pelt (B). Since he successfully completed a fourteen-month-long course on leadership, the Leadership Entrepreneurship Advanced Program, at the leading Dutch institute, "De Baak." (2016) he's serving as a board member in several cultural organizations.
Additionally, he is since 2019 appointed as the chairman of POM (Paviljoen Ongehoorde Muziek), an organization for contemporary music based in Eindhoven. He has been a member of the artistic committee of the European Music Festival for Young People at Pelt (B) since 2012.