Saxophonist. Conductor. Educator. Arranger.
Highlights 2025-2026 season
COSENZA SAXOPHONE MEETING
3 - 7 November 2025
The saxophone class of CRLg is invited to Cosenza Italy for the Cosenza Saxophone Meeting with a wonderful team:
MARIANO GARCIA
EVA VAN GRISNVEN
NELE TIEBOUT
BART VAN BENEDEN
STEFANO PECCI
MARINA NOTARO
INAUGURATIECONCERT USO | Aula Pieter De Somer, Leuven
13 & 14 November 2025
After a concerttour in Rostok, Germany, the orchestra is ready for two magnificent evenings with Bohemian melodies: Dvořák, Mahler, Suk and a surprise Janáček!
KSO BRENGT TRIPTIEK | Muziekcentrum Track, Kortrijk
29 & 30 October 2025
Let yourself be carried away in this captivating concert where three masterpieces come together. Each masterpiece tells, in its own way, of flight, longing, and imagination: sharply satirical in Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé, with fiery gypsy tones in Ravel’s Tzigane, and in a thousand and one enchanting ways in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade."
OPERA BALLET VLAANDEREN: RITES | Antwerpen & Gent
17 Januari - 2 February 2026
A century ago, Ravel’s La Valse had its stage world premiere with the Ballet of the Royal Flemish Opera in Antwerp. To mark this milestone, Algerian-French choreographer Nacera Belaza created a new solo, known for its ritual character and play of light and darkness. Her Rites is framed by two musical and choreographic icons: Shahar Binyamini’s Bolero X, where extra dancers amplify the hypnotic power of Ravel’s score — with its unforgettable saxophone solos — and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Pina Bausch’s legendary version of this masterpiece remains a milestone in dance history, rehearsed here with OBV by former Tanztheater Wuppertal dancer Barbara Kaufmann.
Conducting News
Very happy to be appointed as the new chief conductor of USO - the University Symphony Orchestra of Leuven! The orchestra has a long tradition and boasts previous conductors such as Piet Swerts, Etienne Siebens and especially Edmond Saveniers, who conducted the orchestra for 27 years. Very much looking forward to start our journey together in September 2025!
Saxophone News
Great news: as of September 2025, I will join the faculty of LUCA School of Arts, as professor of Saxophone and Chamber Music.
If you are interested in studying for Bachelor (only NL) or Master (NL & EN) in an open and nurturing environment with a broad artistic vision on saxophone and music, don't hesitate to contact me at bart.vanbeneden@luca-arts.be.
