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After general music theory, violin and piano courses at the Music Academy of Lede, the Belgian baritone and choral conductor, Joris Derder, took singing classes, first with Rita Piron, later on with Ludwig van Gijsegem. After obtaining a degree in mathematics, he studied as a baritone with Bernadette Degelin at the Music Department of the Hogeschool Antwerpen (formerly the Koninklijk Muziekconservatorium van Antwerpen), where he improved and broadened his singer’s repertoire. He received lessons from, among others, Lucienne Van Dijck and Jozef De Beenhouwer (Song), Andrew Wise (Oratorio) and Guy Joosten (Opera). He also attended master classes with John Norris, Carol Yahr and Udo Reinemann. Today, he is coached by Bart De Kegel.
Since 2005, Joris Derder has been a baritone with the Vlaams Radio Koor, led by chief conductor Hervé Niquet. In this choir he has also performed as a soloist in works by Bo Holten and Johan Dujick, and participated in many CD, radio and TV recordings. As a soloist, he has sung in many European countries, as well as in New York and SouthKorea in cooperation with a number of other ensembles, bringing a varied repertoire, ranging from Renaissance to contemporary music and newly created works. He has worked with Collegium Vocale Gent (Director: Philippe Herreweghe), Capella di Voce (Director: Kurt Bikkembergs), Capella Brugensis (Director: Patrick Peire), Ex Tempore (Director: Florian Heyerick), European Intervoices, Eurochor 2004 in Switzerland, Leidse Koorprojecten, as well as with Bo Holten, Johan Duijck, Kurt Bikkembergs, Jos van Immerseel, Timo Nuoranne, Marcus Creed, Kaspars Putnins, Paul Hillier, Mariss Jansons and numerous other conductors. He has also performed as the regular baritone for the Bach Cantata Project of Ensemble BachPlus conducted by Bart Naessens.
Joris Derder has also experience in opera: he sang the role of Zuniga in the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet in Leiden (Netherlands) and played the title role in Orfeo by F. Bertoni. Joris also played Hans (Hansel) in Grietje de Heks (Gretel the Witch), a children’s opera with the music by Filip Martens. He also took part in Vadermoord (Father’s murder), a musical theatre production of TG Vagevuur.
Joris Derder started his musical experience as a violinist and played in orchestras including the Symfonische Kring van Aalst, Brussels Youth Orchestra, Oost-Vlaams Kamer Orkest and Dendermonds Symfonisch Orkest, conducted by Geert Baetens.
Next to being a professional baritone, Joris Derder has also worked as a conductor. He studied choir conducting with Jan Vuye at the Stedelijke Muziekacademie in Waregem, from which he graduated with greatest distinction in June 2004. He also took Kurt Thomas Master classes for Choir and Orchestra conducting in Utrecht, where he worked with several conductors including Daan Admiraal, Jos van Veldhoven and Daniel Reuss.
As a conductor, Joris Derder has conducted numerous choirs at home and abroad. He was director of the Sint-Gregoriuskoor van Oordegem (until June 2006) and the Leeds Gemengd Koor Enthousiasmus. Since 2000, he has been conductor of the Gents Universitair Koor, conducting numerous concerts and successes at home and abroad (Hungary, Great Britain, Denmark, Poland, Spain, Italy, Austria, New York (USA)). Recently they performed A Child Of Our Time, fully led by Joris, who also conducted the University Symphonic Orchestra of Ghent. In August 2010, a new ambitious chamber choir took shape under the name Kamerkoor Koriolis in Gent, where he takes on the artistic direction.
As a conductor, Joris Derder worked with the Waregems Kamerkoor (Con Cuore), Cantabile (Ghent), Gentse Oratorium Vereniging, I Musici Fiamminghi (Director: Rudolf Werthen), among others. He was selected as the only Belgian at the 3rd International Competition for Young Choir Conductors in Vienna in September-October 2004 where was given the honour to conduct the Wiener Kammerchor. In July 2015 Joris won gold and silver with the Guk at the International Youth Music Festival in Bratislava.
Joris Derder married Mieke Diependaele in 2008, and currently lives in Lede, Belgium |
