Xavier DEPREZ
Organist, main organist of the Saint Michael and Gudulae Cathedral of Brussels, Belgium
Summary
Xavier Deprez is organist recitalist, improviser and harpsichordist.
He won some national and international Organ Competitions as Axion Classics (Brussels), and was finalist of the 1st International competition Gottfried Silbermann of Freiberg (Germany).
Xavier Deprez has studied with Prof. Jean Boyer in Lille (France), Jean Ferrard in Brussels(Belgium), Louis Robilliard in Lyon (France), Robert Kohnen in Brussels (Belgium).
He tooked part to masterclasses with Bernard Foccroulle (Belgium), Jan Willem Jansen (France), Freddy Eichelberger (France).
He was also 1st continuo player of the Baroque Orchestra les Agremens conducted by Jean Tubery and Guy Van Waas, and accompagnator of the Chamber Choir of Namur (Belgium) conducted by Pierre Cao, until 2010.
He was appointed in 1993 as main organist of the Church Our Lady of Finisterrae in Brussels and created an organ concert serie «Organ on Monday». With his wife Momoyo Kokubu, he organized more than 700 concerts with organ and other instruments.
As main organist of the Cathedral of Brussels since 2010, he is the artistic director of the Cathedral Concerts and the Messes Festives. He also plays the ceremonies in presence of the Royal Family of Belgium.
Since the year 2002, Xavier Deprez is organ teacher at the Royal Music Conservatoire of the city of Mons, and teaches organ interpretation and improvisation.
As a recitalist, Xavier Deprez has been invited in european Festivals (Belgium, France, Swiss, Netherland, Italy) and gave concerts in Japan as soloist, and with his wife (four hands and four feet programmes).
Xavier Deprez is also composer for choir and organ music: Psalms, Magnificat, Mass Rivespérance, Toccata and Trio for organ, motet « O ignis spiritu » for the Brussels Chamber Choir (recording Etcetera « Made in Belgium »).
Specialities
Organ recitalist in the repertoires of Baroque time, Romantic and neo-classical repertoire, improvisation, chamber music and baroque orchestras.
Experience
Main organist of the Cathedral of Brussels, Belgium
Organ teacher at Conservatoire Royal de Musique de Mons
Organ recitalist and improviser
Composer
Education
Conservatoires de Musique de Liège, Anvers et Bruxelles (Belgium)
Conservatoire de Région de Lille (France)
Recitalist and teacher diploma’s 1993-1997
Honors and Awards
Winner of Axxion Classics Competition (Belgium)
Finnalist of the 1st Silbermann orgelwetbewerb (Germany)
Compositions and recordings
Scores :
Psaumes et cantiques bibliques
Magnificat for choir, baryton solo and organ
Psaume 22 for soprano, alto, baryton and organ
Fanfarons for 5 keyboards. (Great Organ, 2 positive organs and 2 harpsichords)
Messe Rivesperance for congregation, 2 choirs, 2 brass quartets (period instruments)
Toccata en Re mineur op 13
Choral en Trio Ein feste Burg op 14
Books : Méthode du choral sur la règle de l’octave
CDs : solo organ - with orchestras
Inauguration of the Grenzing organ,
Bach ex Cathedra,
Notre-Dame du Finistère,
Missa Brevis Christoffels,
Emitte Spiritum tuum Deprez,
Benoît Mernier : Mass and organ works,
Duruflé requiem,
Martyre des Maccabées Torri, Charpentier Te Deum,
Gloria JC Bach,
Messe de Philippe Rogier.