Wouter Valvekens is a Belgian concert pianist. He has been invited to perform on different occasions in Belgium, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom, 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 Mozart Gesellschaft Dortmund. The ensemble made its debut in the Konzerthaus Dortmund in 2018, to critical acclaim.  

During his studies, Wouter Valvekens has been actively participating in numerous national and international competitions. In 2014 he was awarded the first prize at the Belfius Classics competition. He was a finalist at the International VriendenCultuurPrijs Theaters Tilburg and he was awarded the second prize in the International André Charlier piano competition in 2015. In 2016, he won the 1st prize and the prize of the audience in the international VriendenCultuurPrijs piano competition in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and the 3rd prize in the César Franck International Piano Competition. Wouter won the first prize, and two special prizes at the International Paços Premium Competition in Paços de Brandão, Portugal. 

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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.He has worked with András Schiff, Imogen Cooper, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Richard Goode, Klaus Hellwig, Frank Braley amongst others in various masterclasses. Wouter Valvekens is also supported by the SWUK Flanders Foundation to follow masterclasses worldwide.  

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