BMus (Hons), Mmus, MS
Harmen began playing the cornet at the Music School of Izegem from the age of 7, studying under Georges Coppé. At the age of 14 he entered the ‘Kunsthumaniora’ for gifted musicians in Leuven (Belgium). He went on to study trumpet and cornet at the renowned Lemmensinstitute in Leuven under Leo Wouters and Leon Petré, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree with ‘High Distinction’ as well as a Master’s Degree with ‘Highest Distinction’. He completed his musical studies with a Post-Graduate Master’s degree achieving ‘Highest Distinction’.
He first became well known to audiences in 2007, when he joined the Royal Wind Band of the Belgian Guides as cornet soloist. Since this debut, his list of achievements includes awards in major solo competitions, as well as soloist prizes in contests all around the world. In 2011, Harmen was granted the title of International Soloist of the Year after winning both the famous British Open Solo Competition (UK) and the Ern Keller Memorial Trophy (AUS).
Harmen is known in the music world as an innovator for his instrument, commissioning various international composers on a regular basis, in order to expand the repertoire for the cornet. In this capacity he has been involved in multiple recordings. A highlight was his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Fortune’s Fool’, ‘Ellis Island’, the result of a collaboration with the composer Stan Nieuwenhuis. This resulted in an iTunes chart ranking and numerous recordings for famous labels, including Naxos and Toccata Classics.
Harmen has performed as a soloist all over the world, including the UK, the USA, China, Russia, Canada, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and most of the EU. He is widely known for displaying stunning musical technique whilst delivering entertainment at its best. This reputation led to him be invited to be one of the very few official endorsers for the world renowned brand Besson, in which capacity he is actively involved in the further development of the modern cornet.
Prizes
2019:
National Brass Band Championship of New Zealand (Hamilton, NZ), awarded Best Soloist
2015:
National Brass Band Championship of New Zealand (Rotorua, NZ), awarded Best Soloist Eurobrass Drachten (NL),awarded Best Soloist
2013:
Scottish National Brass Band Championship (Perth, UK), awarded Best Soloist
2012:
International Brass Band Contest (Leuven, B), awarded Best Soloist
All England Masters International (Kettering, UK), awarded Best Soloist, 4barsrest.com award2011:
Ern Keller Memorial Trophy winner, International Soloist of the Year (Sydney, AUS)
Land 'o' Burn's Contest (Troon, UK), awarded Best Principal Cornet, Philip McCann Trophee
Fife Charities (Fife, UK), awarded Best Cornet
2010:
European Brass Band Solo Competition (Linz, A), awarded Best Cornet and Prize Winner of the Competition
British Open Solo Championship (Tameside, UK), winner Soloist Prize, Best cornet
British Open Quartet Championship (Tameside, UK), winner, and first ever winning the double Euro Brass (Drachten, NL), awarded Best Soloist
2009:
British Open Solo and Quartet Championship (Tameside, UK), awarded Best Cornet and Runner Up2008:
British Open Solo and Quartet Championships (Tameside, UK), awarded Best Cornet and Runner Up2007:
European Brass Band Solo Competition (Birmingham, UK), awarded Best European Cornet
SCABA Contest (Folkstone, UK), awarded Best Instrumentalist Trophy, W.E. Whimhurst Challenge Trophy
2005:
Lions European Musical Competition, Finalist 2004:
Axion Classics 2004 (Pro-civitate), Prizewinner 2002: -Jong-Tenuto, Finalist
1998-2004:
Fedekam, Muziekverbond later called Vlamo. Seven times prizewinner, at least once in every category
Solo Recordings
“Mysteries of the Horizon”, recorded with Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Naxos 2020
“Make it Slide and Friends”, recorded with Make it Slide, makeitslide 2019
“The Other side”, recorded with the University of St. Thomas Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Innova 2019 “Ellis Island”, recorded with Doux, DK Records 2017
“Clarke: Music for Symphonic Wind Orchestra”, recorded with the MTSU Wind Ensemble, Toccata Classics 2017
“The arrival”, recorded with Exit_Brass!, exitbrass 2015
“A perfect match”, recorded with MR Philharmonic Orchestra, Marcophon 2011
“Divertimento”, recorded with MR Philharmonic Orchestra, Marcophon 2011
“Fortune’s Fool”, recorded with Brass Band Buizingen, Band Press 2011
“Non Pareil”, recorded with Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2010
“Cat’s Tales”, recorded with Brass Band Buizingen, Band Press 2008
General Recordings
“Mutations”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2017
“Violin Concerto Nr 1 & more great classics”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, MuzDef 2016 “Divergences”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2016
“Belgian Marches, Vol 5”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2016
“El Olimpo de los Dioses”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2015
“Belgian Marches, Vol 4”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2015
“Danse Satanique”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2015
“Live in concert at Bozar”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2014
“Highlights from the EBBC 2014”, Tredegar Band, World of Brass 2014
“A tribute to Arthur Prevost”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2014
“The Witches Cauldron”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2014
“When Worlds Collide”, Brass Band Buizingen, Band Press 2013
“Une soirée musicale chez Adolphe Sax”, Brass Band Buizingen, Anthology of Flemish Band Music 2013
“Belgian Music for Alto Saxophone and Wind Band”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2013
“Highlights from the EBBC 2013”, Brass Band Buizingen, World of Brass 2013
“The tower of Babel”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2013
“Paul Gilson complete works for Fanfare Wagnérienne”, Brass Band Buizingen, Anthology of Flemish Band Music 2013
“Robert Groslot Conducts”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, GroslotMusic 2013
“Portrait of August de Boeck, Vol 2”, Brussels Symphonic Orchestra, Anthology of Flemish Band Music 2012
“Saint-Saens and the wind band”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2012
“Peter and the Wolf”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2011
“the Big Band”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, Beriato 2011
“Highlights from the EBBC 2011”, Brass Band Buizingen, World of Brass 2011
“La Feria”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2011
“Rainfall on Pink City”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, Golden River Music 2011
“A Chinese Concerto”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2011
“Non Pareil”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2010
“A tribute to our past conductors”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2010 “Apocalypse”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2010
“Highlights from the EBBC 2010”, Tredegar Band, World of Brass 2010
“Devreese Homage”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, Beriato 2010
“Highlights WMC 2009”, Brass Band Buizingen, Mirasound 2009
“Nuraghi”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, World Wind Music 2009
“the Well of the Moon”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, HaFaBra Music 2009
“Cat’s Tales”, Brass Band Buizingen, Band Press 2008
“Danzas Del Infierno”, Royal Band of the Belgian Guides, Beriato 2008
“Highlights European Brass Band Championships 2008”, Brass Band Buizingen, World of Brass 2008 “Portrait of the Synthesist”, Brass Band Buizingen, Anthology of Flemish Band Music 2008 “Highlights from the EBBC 2008”, Brass Band Buizingen, World of Brass 2008
“Euphonium Virtuoso”, Steven Mead, Bocchino 2006
“Highlights WMC 2005”, Brass Band Buizingen, Mirasound 2005
“Portrait of Luc Vertommen”, Brass Band Buizingen, Band Press 2005
“Portrait of Johan Evenepoel”, Brass Band Buizingen, Band Press 2005
“Portrait of August de Boeck”, Brass Band Buizingen, Anthology of Flemish Band Music 2005
“Ad Optimum”, Brass Band Buizingen, MiraSound 2005
“Portrait of Marcel Poot”, Brass Band Buizingen, Anthology of Flemish Band Music 2003