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Michael De Geest was born in Eeklo in 1982. His father is Edward De Geest, who is the appointed organist at the Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent. Michael graduated majoring in science and mathematics at the Saint Vincent’s College in his native city and obtained the final certificate for organ and piano at the local Academy for Music and Drama, studying the piano in the class of his mother Monique Lanszweert and the organ in the class of Dirk Bruggeman. For the mastery of both instruments he also got the Special Prize and ‘Charter of the City of Eeklo’. As a youngster Michael was also a choir member of the Schola Cantorum at the Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent. 

His keen interest in mathematics and computer science earned him his master's degree at Ghent University graduating in 2004. 

When fulfilling his professional IT activities, Michael also followed classes at the Royal Ghent Conservatory studying under Ignace Michiels, and obtaining a bachelor's degree in performing music in 2009. He was also much inspired by his then teachers Daniel Gistelinck (harmony and counterpoint) and Hans Lamal (improvisation).

Michael specialized in baroque organ music with the Liège organist Serge Schoonbroodt. He attended master classes in organ with Helga Schauerte in Eckenhagen (Germany) and with baroque specialist Liuwe Tamminga in Urbino (Italy) during the "Musica Antica" festival. Michael was also organist of the Sint-Jacobskerk in Ghent for more than ten years.

Michael has already released recitals in Germany, the Netherlands, France, England, Denmark, Hungary and Japan. In chamber music, Michael plays together with oboist Dagmar Robben, who is also his wife. He is also a member of the Fuga Temporis ensemble.

In January 2010, Michael was appointed organist of the Sint-Niklaaskerk in Ghent, where since 2011 he is also responsible for the organization of thematic organ concerts, including homage to various baroque composers. From this impressive church with its beautiful baroque Flentrop organ, Michael continues to focus on baroque music, with a big heart for the organ work of composers such as Buxtehude, Böhm, Frescobaldi, Couperin and of course Bach.

He was recently appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ghent Organ Center, a non-profit organization that organizes the annual organ concerts in July and August in St Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent.

Michael is chairman of the symphonic orchestra "Lumen Symphonicum", which was founded in 2015 and is conducted by his brother David. This orchestra mainly programs Viennese Classical work. For example, in 2016 Mozart's Jupiter Symphony and 21st Piano Concerto i.s.m. Queen Elisabeth laureate Daniel Blumenthal. In 2017, Lumen Symphonicum played Mozart's 40th Symphony and Schubert's 1st Symphony, as well as orchestral work by Antonio Salieri. In 2018 the orchestra programmed, among others, Haydn's 96th Symphony "Miracle", Mozart's 36th Symphony "Linzer" and well-known Clarinet Concerto, i.s.m. Eddy Vanoosthuyse.







Kopierechten © 2012 - 2024 Michael De Geest - URL: www.michaeldegeest.be
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