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Ludwig AlbertBelgian Marimba Artist
Ludwig Albert is one of today’s most highly acclaimed marimbists throughout the world. After obtaining a first prize percussion, the superior Diploma and his master-degree specialisation marimba with high distinctions at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Antwerp, he was the first Belgian marimbist admitted to the Toho Gakuan Music School in Tokyo in 1994, where he studied marimba specialisation with the world-famous Japanese marimba-virtuoso Ms. Keiko Abe. Afterwards he was invited by Ms. Abe and performed with her on several concert tours for special occasions, anniversaries of concert-halls and radio broadcastings: Keiko Abe plays Keiko Abe (1996-Belgium), Concert Keiko Abe & Ludwig Albert (Osaka Japan 1996), Keiko Abe charity gala concert (1996-Japan), Belgium Tour: Dialogue in Nature/Keiko Abe & Ludwig Albert in concert (1997), Japan Tour: Dialogue in Nature (1997), Dialogue in Nature (2000 Belgium).
Starting 1995 he searched for new sound-combinations and founded his duo ‘Patrasche’. By their unique combination of singing, they developed a style of their own, performing his compositions, creations and improvisations all based on International traditional folksongs. Their musical combination evokes a fascinating world. For their first album “Japanese Impressions”, prefaced by Keiko Abe, they received International outstanding reviews by critics and they were regularly invited as guests of several dedicated radio-broadcastings & festivals. In 2002 they released their second album “Impressions of the low-countries” and are now preparing their newest production (release 2007).
In 1996, he founded the organisation “marimba-Projects” with the purpose to develop the marimba by organising marimba-events & pedagogical projects. In 2001 he founded the “Universal Marimba Competition & Festival” (www.marimbacompetition.com) and is related as artistic director to this prestigious event, his International marimba summer academy and the Keiko Abe International marimba academy. Showered with several titles, he recorded 7 label-albums: “Japanese Impressions”, “Marimba paraphrases”, “marimba dances”, “Impressions of the Low countries”, “marimba Christmas fantasy”, “Marimba Waves” and “Marimba Selections” with mainly own works, arrangements, improvisations and first-recordings of masterworks and dedicated compositions. Over last ten years he performed several int. tours with the cooperation of significant guest artists & ensembles such as Keiko Abe, Momoko Kamiya, François Glorieux, Patrasche, the Mol percussion orchestra, supercussion Vienna , Nowosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra and others…..
As “Yamaha artist” he performs always on the Yamaha 6000 Concert-marimba and is attracting attention worldwide as one of the leading marimbists. He’s the first marimba-player using during his performances special designed decors and light-effects with the purpose to introduce the marimba to a larger audience. He astonished the audience by playing in première the marimba with 8 mallets. He’s receiving invitations worldwide and appears as a regular guest to perform solo-recitals, concerto’s with orchestra and master classes at significant festivals and universities in Belgium, Spain, Argentine, Mexico, Russia, Japan, Columbia, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Brazil, USA, China, Taiwan, Australia, Netherlands, etc…He’s professor marimba at the Belgian Royal Conservatory of music Antwerp, is related as guest professor to the “universidad Nac. del Artes” in Chiapas and serves as president of the percussive arts society, chapter Belgium.
During 2005 he performed a sold out jubilee concert tour with several guests and appeared in mass productions with over more then 10.000 spectators. He premièred with tremendous success in Russia his newest production planned to be released in 2008. His total repertory is published by Beurskens music editions (NL). Well-known as an outstanding lyrical performer and by his unique warm sound, he’s honoured with several awards such as the percussion award of honour 2001 and is praised by International press-reviews with critics.
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