Nederlands Walter Mertens
Walter Mertens (b. 1965) began his musical studies at the Academy for Music in Mol, Belgium. He won a First Prize in Percussion at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, where he studied with Mr. Louis Caubergs. He then obtained the Higher Degree at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven, with Mr. Leo Ouderits as his tutor and mentor. To complete his musical studies, Walter Mertens obtained a Master’s Degree at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, again under the guidance of Mr. Leo Ouderits.
Currently, Walter Mertens teaches percussion, percussion ensemble, and instrumental ensemble. He is also the coordinator at the Academy for Music in Schoten. Additionally, Walter regularly participates in workshops, provides artistic support, and is frequently invited to serve as a jury member for solo and ensemble performances in Belgium and abroad. He has served on juries for organizations such as Vlamo, Belfius Classics, Belgian Percussion Days 2011 and 2012, APC (Antwerp Percussion Competition), Perculliria (Spain), Bumfest, Temsig Competition (Slovenia), International Percussion Workshops Gdansk (Poland), Colours of Rhythm (Serbia), Ivana Summer Percussion Festival (Croatia), and Waubonsie Valley High School (Chicago, IL).
Together with three other professional percussionists, Walter Mertens formed the group 4PK. This renowned quartet emerged from the former Mol Percussion Orchestra and plays its own compositions both in Belgium and abroad.
As a composer, Walter Mertens focuses on teaching methods as well as compositions for percussion solo, duo, ensemble, symphonic orchestra, musical theatre, wind instruments, jazz combo, piano, chamber music, and choir. Several of his compositions have won prizes in various competitions or have been designated as required pieces for national and international contests, such as the World Music Contest in Kerkrade (Netherlands), Temsig - Slovenian Music Competition for Youth (Slovenia), European Music Festival for Young People in Neerpelt (Belgium), and Vlamo (Belgium). His works are recognized far beyond the boundaries of Belgium and are performed worldwide.
