His Career As A Clarinetist
Boeykens studied the clarinet at the Royal Conservatory of Music Brussels. In 1965 he won the International competition for contemporary music of Utrecht (Netherlands).
Between 1964 en 1984 he was principal clarinetist of Belgian Radio and Television (BRT) Philharmonic Orchestra.
On December 20, 1968 he created Domaines by Pierre Boulez —originally written for Hans Deinzer— in the version for Clarinet and Orchestra with the BRT Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of the composer himself.
This achievement launched him onto the path of a very successful career as a soloist. As a consequence, he was invited to many of the big European music festivals such as those of Berlin, Paris, Warschau, Salzburg, and last but not least to the festivals of Wallonia and Flanders (both in Belgium).
He appeared as soloist in numerous concerts in Israel, the USA, Venezuela, Japan, Korea...
Leaving the BRT philharmonic in 1984 allowed him to fully develop his career as a soloist, and play under the 'baton of famous conductors such as Charles Münch, Rafael Frübeck de Burgos, Gary Bertini, Leonard Bernstein, James Conlon, and many others.
In 1969, Boeykens was appointed professor at the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory of Antwerp.
In 1972 he became professor at the "Académie Internationale d'Été de Nice". Additionally, Walter Boeykens holds assignments at the conservatories of Utrecht, Rotterdam and at the Fontys Conservatory in Tilburg all in the Netherlands. Last but not least, he teaches at the "Cité de la Musique" in Paris, France and at the "Scuola di Alto Perfezionamente Musicale" in Turin in Italy.
In 1981, he founded the Walter Boeykens Clarinet Choir at the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory of Antwerp.
In 1987 he was on the jury of the Jeunesses Musicales International Competition in Belgrade. The jury members were:
- Milenko Stefanovic, Yugoslavia, President
- James Campbell, Canada
- Walter Boeykens, Belgium
- Ludwig Kurkiewicz, Poland
- Thea King, UK
- Ernest Ackun, Yugoslavia
- Marko Rudzak, Yugoslavia
- Stjepan Rabuzin, Yugoslavia
In 1997 and 2001 he was on the jury of the Carl Nielsen International Music Competitions. In 1997 the jury was composed of:
- Colin Bradbury President, UK
- Michel Arrignon France
- Walter Boeykens, Belgium
- Hans Deinzer Germany
- John Kruse Denmark
- Lee Morgan USA
- Charles Neidich USA
- Jens Schou Denmark
- Kjell-Inge Stevensson Sweden
- Niels Thomsen Denmark
In 2001, jury members were:
- Hans Deinzer Germany, President
- Michel Arrignon France
- Søren Birkelund Denmark
- Walter Boeykens Belgium
- Béla Kovács Hungary
- John Kruse Denmark
- Sabine Meyer Germany
- Charles Neidich USA
- Jens Schou Denmark
- Kjell-Inge Stevensson Sweden
On 23 April 2013 it was announced that Boeykens had passed away at the age of 75.
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