At the age of six, Simon Van Hoecke received his first lessons in the cornet: it quickly became clear that he was musically gifted. Different master classes with international trumpet soloists resulted in prizes, including Axion Classics, Jong Tenuto, the Flemish Brass Band Federation Competition, and the Lions International Trumpet Competition. After studying maths and science, Simon Van Hoecke obtained a master’s degree in the trumpet, chamber music, and conducting at the Royal Conservatory in Antwerp. At the same time, he followed theoretical courses in analysis and counterpoint and also obtained a teaching degree. Simon went on to specialised studies with Prof. Klaus Schuhwerk at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt am Main and was invited to be a guest soloist with the World Chamber Orchestra, the Museumsorchester of the Frankfurt Opera, and the Giessen Stadttheaterorchester and at the Weilburger Schlosskonzerten. His musical flexibility is shown by his mastery not only of the trumpet, but also of the cornet, the flugelhorn, and the piccolo trumpet. His creativity and his passion for brass playing have found expression in a number of arrangements and compositions for brass and wind ensembles. Simon is a member of the renowned Belgian Brass and, with the Eburon Quintet, won the prestigious Concours International de Musique de Chambre de Lyon.
