Bernd van Echelpoel

Bernd van Echelpoel is one of the most prominent tuba players in Belgium and Europe. Winner of the 2006 Lieksa Brass Week in Finland, Gold at the “Concours Europeënne pour jeunes solistes 2006” in Luxemburg

Even before graduating his masters degree he got his first job at “Holland Symfonia” (now known as “the Ballet Orchestra”) in Amsterdam. Afterwards he played with the “Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra”, also in Amsterdam. As of 2009 he is playing with the “Antwerp Symphony Orchestra” (formerly known as the Royal philharmonic orchestra of Flanders) in his home town Antwerp.

Bernd was guest professor with the Luca School of Arts, Lemmens campus in Leuven. Since 2013 he succeeded his former tuba teacher Hendrik-Jan Renes as tuba professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. Bernd also teaches tuba, saxhorn and Low brass at “dé Kunsthumaniora” and “Mago” in Antwerp.

As a chamber musician he is associated with the Ottone Brass Quintet and Benny Wiame’s New Brass Directions and he works freelance for several other top ensembles.

As conductor Bernd works with A.M.Brass, a youth brassband based in Antwerp and is assistant conductor with Festival Brassband and Brassband Bacchus.

Bernd consecutively studied with Arthur Vanderhoeft, Nick Ost and Bart Van Neyghem. He graduated with Hendrik-Jan Renes (Tuba) and dirk De Caluwé (conducting) at the Conservatoires of Antwerp and Rotterdam with honor.

As a soloist he played with the Mikkeli String Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Spectra Ensemble, the  Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Air Force, Symphonic band of the Antwerp Conservatoire, Festival Brassband, Brassband Bacchus, Brassband excelsior Kloetinge, …

Bernd has a fondness for new compositions and contributed to several new works by Jelle Tassyns, Geert Callaert, Wim Bex, Steven Verhelst and Roger Derongé. He premiered various previously unknown pieces for solo tuba in the Benelux.

Aside to playing the tuba, teaching and conducting, Bernd loves his family very much and has a passion for food and gardening.

Bernd plays as B&S and Besson Artist on the B&S JBL Classic F tuba, Besson BE981S 1-0 Eb tuba and  Besson 994 Bb tuba.