MIDDELEER, Jean De

Jean DE MIDDELEER (Brussels, 24th February 1908 - Brussels, 20th June 1986)

Jean De Middeleer studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and, in 1930, he received the virtuosity Prize for piano and organ. He obtained also other awards such as the Courboin Prize, the Mailly Prize and the Agniez Prize. In 1937 he received a "first second" Prize of Rome with his cantata “Le trapèze étoilé”.

In Paris, he studied orchestration with Paul Gilson, conducting with Désiré Defauw, then improvisation with Marcel Dupré.

Before and during World War II he travelled extensively as pianist and conductor in Europe, Africa and the Near-East. From 1947 to 1951 he stayed in Nairobi (Kenia) as principal of the local Music Conservatory and as music director of the symphonic orchestra. Back in Belgium, in 1951 he taught at the Academies of Music of Molenbeek and Etterbeek and became professor of harmony at the Royal Conservatory of Mons. From 1953 to 1978 he was director of the Academy of Music of Tienen. Under his guidance, this institution was greatly expanded.
In 1977, the “Union of Belgian Composers” offered him the “Fuga Trophy” for his efforts in promoting Belgian music.

As a composer, he wrote orchestral works, chamber music, piano music and an important number of choral works. Typical of his style is the well-balanced structure and technical perfection.

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