Nederlands Patrick De Smet
Patrick De Smet was born in 1968 in Dendermonde. At the age of four, he began to drum with the local band. Soon, he started his musical studies in different academies. At the age of fourteen, he already participated in radio and TV recordings with Sadi, Slide Hampton, Freddy Sunder, BRT Big Band, and the Young Drummers under direction of Armand van de Walle.
He continued his studies percussion (pop and classical) with Louis Cauberghs, solfeggio, harmony, arranging and pedagogy.
In 1988 he started a military career with the Grenadiers Band in Brasschaat. Nowadays Patrick is the artistic manager of the three Royal Bands of Defense.
As a drummer/percussionist Patrick De Smet worked together with many world famous artists, among them Jim Kerr (Simple Minds), Cliff Richard, Grace Jones, Boy George, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Barry Hay, James Blunt, Céline Dion, Bryan Ferry, Al Jarreau, Alan Parsons, Tony Hadley, Toto, Joe Cocker, Sting, Roger Hudson, Lisa Stansfield, Mark King, Paul Michiels, Andrea Bocelli, John Miles, Status Quo, Zucherro, Howard Jones, UB40, Chrissy Hynde, Martin Fry, Meat Loaf, Chris De Burgh, Marco Borsato, Laith Al Deen, Gerard Lenorman, Bonny Tyler, Florent Pagny, Julie Zenati, Eros Ramazotti, Johnny Haliday, Texas, Ike Turner, Tears for Fears, Myriam Stockley, Chico and the Gypsies, Mike Oldfield, Midge Ure, Sinéad O'connor, Live (Ed Kowalczyk), Harlem gospel choir, Robin Gibb, Kim Wilde,10CC, Dennis De Young,... He played in different accompaniment orchestras as well as in the John Miles Electric Band, the orchestra of the 'Night of the Proms'.
As freelance percussionist/timpanist Patrick De Smet played with several renowned orchestras e. g. BRT Philharmonisch Orkest, Vlaamse Opera, La Monnaie, Il Novecento, Beethoven Academy, Rotterdam Philharmonic,... From 1993 till 2003 he was fixed timpanist for I Fiamminghi under direction of Rudolf Werthen, which gave him the opportunity to play worldwide and in the most famous concert halls.
In 1996 Patrick together with Chris Lambrechts, founded a company for audio visual productions : 'Travel Sound'. The technical knowhow combined with lots of musical experience made it possible to realize exquisite productions in a very short period such as CD recordings of Tars Lootens, Hendrickx-Leleu, Belgian Brass Soloists, and Concert band Steenhuffel, Sabien Tiels, short film for Tenneco Automotive...
In 2001, he founded the percussion duet 'Melo Ritmo' together with Carlo Willems. Evening performances, school performances as well as company events are frequently shown.
'The Symphonic Factory' was created in 2000 to guide company events in an inventive musical way. This project resulted in beautiful programs for Andersen Consulting, Zuiderkroon, Sotto's, DVV, Sun Microsystems, Diebold, Renault, WTC Amsterdam, 11th July celebration 2002 in Brussels, Plantin, Topo's 2 with Toots Tielemans, 21st July 2003 – national holiday, 10 years King Albert, Dexia, Studio 100,...
There is a growing interest for the work of Patrick De Smet ranging from music for small ensembles to symphonic arrangements e.g. 'Taba' (saxophone quartet) was daily used as opening tune for 'Bruggen en Wegen', a radio program (radio3), music for percussion ensemble and for solo instruments, band and film music, arrangements for the 'Night of the Proms' and for Lara Fabian.
