{{Short description|Belgian conductor and pianist}} {{Infobox person | name = Koen Kessels | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1961<ref name="telegraph1" /> | birth_place = | occupation = Conductor, music director | years_active = | known_for = Music director of The Royal Ballet and of Dutch National Ballet }}

'''Koen Kessels''' (born 1961) is a Belgian conductor and pianist. He is music director of The Royal Ballet<ref name="TAD">{{cite web |title=Koen Kessels: 'there's a joke in ballet we only have two tempi' |url=http://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music-dance/koen-kessels-theres-joke-ballet-we-only-have-two-tempi-interview |work=The Arts Desk |author= Hanna Weibye |date=2017-05-31 |access-date=2024-01-01}}</ref><ref name="telegraph1">{{cite news |author=Jessica Salter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/The-world-of-Koen-Kessels/ |title=The world of Koen Kessels |work=The Telegraph |date=2015-11-21 |access-date=2016-05-20}}</ref> and of Het Balletorkest, affiliated with the Dutch National Ballet.

==Biography== Trained as a pianist, Kessels studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. He became a repetiteur and an assistant conductor at the Vlaamse Opera.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/feature/working-with-contemporary-composers-is-the-main-purpose-of-any-company|title='Working with contemporary composers is the main purpose of any company'|last=Kirkup|first=Sarah|date=2016-09-27|work=Gramophone |language=en|access-date=2017-06-01}}</ref> He founded the music ensemble HERMES in 1998<ref>{{cite news |title=Koen Kessels picks up the baton at Birmingham Royal Ballet |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/koen-kessels-picks-up-baton-3935667 |work=Business Live |author=Christopher Morley |date=2010-01-22 |access-date=2024-01-02}}</ref><ref>[https://hermesensemble.be/en/about-hermesensemble/ HERMES' own website mentions 2000 as the year of the ensemble's founding.]</ref> and continues to serve as its artistic director. He has served as music director for the Belgian summer opera festival Zomeropera Alden Biesen.<ref name="TAD"/>

Kessels became music director of Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2010. In 2015, he became music director of The Royal Ballet.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shipman |first=Chris |url=http://www.roh.org.uk/news/koen-kessels-to-succeed-barry-wordsworth-as-music-director-of-the-royal-ballet |title=Koen Kessels to succeed Barry Wordsworth as Music Director of The Royal Ballet — News — Royal Opera House |website=Roh.org.uk |date=2014-10-07 |access-date=2016-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://static.roh.org.uk/for/pdfs/press-releases-14-15/KOEN-KESSELS-SUCCEEDS-BARRY-WORSDWORTH.pdf |title=Koen Kessels to succeed Barry Wordsworth as Music Director of The Royal Ballet and Barry Wordsworth to become Principal Guest Conductor | publisher=The Royal Ballet |date=7 October 2014 |access-date=2024-01-02}}</ref> In December 2023, Dutch National Ballet announced the appointment of Kessels as its next music director, which includes the posts of artistic director and chief conductor of Het Balletorkest, effective 1 August 2024.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.operaballet.nl/nieuws/koen-kessels-nieuwe-muzikaal-leider |title=Koen Kessels nieuwe muzikaal leider Het Nationale Ballet & artistiek leider & chef-dirigent Het Balletorkest |publisher=Dutch National Ballet |date=14 December 2023 |access-date=2024-01-02}}</ref> Kessels concluded his tenure as music director of Birmingham Royal Ballet on 30 June 2024.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.brb.org.uk/stories/paul-murphy-announced-as-new-music-director |title=Paul Murphy announced as new Music Director |publisher=Birmingham Royal Ballet |date=22 January 2024 |access-date=2024-01-24}}</ref>

Kessels is an honorary professor at Birmingham University, as well as artistic director of Inspiratum. He is also on staff of the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.brb.org.uk/profile/koen-kessels Birmingham Royal Ballet page on Koen Kessels] * [https://www.roh.org.uk/people/koen-kessels The Royal Ballet page on Koen Kessels] * [https://www.operaballet.be/en/stories/dirigent-koen-kessels-over-de-bekeerlinge-ik-wilde-deze-opera-doen-componist-wim-henderickx-en-dirigent-koen-kessels-kennen-elkaar-van-op-de-schoolbanken-aan-het-conservatorium-van-antwerpen-sindsdien-hebben-ze-een-goede-vriendschappelijke-en-prof Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, "I wanted to do this opera: conductor Koen Kessels about ''The Convert''". 5 May 2022]

{{s-start}} {{s-culture}} {{succession box | title=Music Director, Birmingham Royal Ballet | before=Barry Wordsworth | years=2010&ndash;2024 | after=Paul Murphy}} {{succession box | title=Music Director, The Royal Ballet | before=Barry Wordsworth | years=2015–present | after=incumbent}} {{succession box | title=Music Director, Het Balletorkest | before=Matthew Rowe | years=2024–present | after=incumbent}} {{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessels, Koen}} Category:1961 births Category:Belgian male conductors (music) Category:Living people Category:21st-century Belgian conductors (music) Category:21st-century Belgian male musicians