Lars Corijn (1996°) graduated as both a tenor, conductor and teacher in conducting from the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, studying with Gary Jankowski (classical voice), Luc Anthonis (choral conducting) and Steven Verhaert (orchestral conducting). Already during his studies he worked regularly as a freelance singer with renowned houses like Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Antwerp and Ghent, the Vlaams Radio Koor and La Monnaie De Munt in Brussels. As a soloist he sang roles in Die Zauberflöte, Albert Herring, Dido and Aeneas, Prisoner of the State and many others. 

 

Despite the love for the stage as a singer, after his graduation Lars was convinced that this was the right time to start investing more in his development as a conductor. Already from early age on, Lars found the love for conducting and working with people. He has therefore been awarded the second prize in the International Conductor’s Contest at the WMC in Kerkrade (NL) for both his musical skills, his advanced conducting technique and pleasant personality towards musicians. Lars had masterclasses with Mark Heron, Clark Rundell, Josep Vila i Casañas and Vladimir Kiradjiev on both the choral and orchestral repertoire. 

 

In 2022 he found with colleague Jappe Dendievel the Mahler Student Festival Orchestra focusing on big symphonic repertoire for music students from across Europe. Having performed twice Gustav Mahlers Second Symphony with nearly 200 performers on stage, this orchestra has put itself on the map. In the upcoming seasons they will perform Mahlers Ninth Symphony, Bruckners Ninth Symphony and Te Deum and Strauss’ Eine Alpensinfonie. The realization of these projects prove that without any financial support, young musicians can bring great quality to the professional podium.

 

Lars is delighted to have been appointed one of the new assistant conductors to chief Gergely Madaras at the Orchestre Philharmonique Royale de Liège from season 2023-2024 onwards. This will be a challenging but rewarding new step to build his career upon.

“Lars has incredible talent, knowledge, a very advanced conducting technique, an outgoing pleasant personality, is confident and enjoys conducting, endears himself to the musicians.”

                                                             - Douglas Bostock, conductor