Bram Nolf
Oboist Bram Nolf received his higher musical education at the conservatoires of Ghent, Rotterdam and Paris, where his principal teachers were Paul Beelaerts, Emanuel Abbühl and David Walter respectively.
He also attended masterclasses with Heinz Holliger and Lothar Koch. During his studies, he was selected for several international youth orchestras (Euro Youth Philharmonic, Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchester, Wereld Jeugd Orkest, Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival Orchester), gaining valuable orchestral experience under conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, Kurt Sanderling and Herbert Blomstedt.
Bram Nolf’s professional orchestral career began with the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen in 1996. In 1999, he joined the Nationaal Orkest van België (now the Belgian National Orchestra), where he remains active. For several years, he has written a widely read blog about the intensive preparations undertaken by the finalists of the Koningin Elisabeth Wedstrijd together with the orchestra.
As a soloist, Bram Nolf aims to perform both established repertoire and innovative music. He has been accompanied by ensembles including Collegium Instrumentale Brugense, Symfonieorkest van Vlaanderen, I Fiamminghi, Prima la Musica, Nederlands Ballet Orkest, Nationaal Orkest van België, l’Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie and Koninklijke Muziekkapel van de Gidsen.
Several composers have dedicated new works to Bram Nolf, who has given the world premiere of each. The most significant are:
- Piet Swerts: "Six Metamorphoses after Covid" for solo oboe
- Dirk Brossé: "Three Roads to Loveland" for cor anglais and strings
- Jan Van der Roost: "Aulos", a concerto for oboe / cor anglais and orchestra
- Annelies Van Parys: "Fabula Rasa" for oboe and harp
- Paul Beelaerts: "Groetjes" for solo oboe
Bram Nolf is a professor at the LUCA School of Arts (Lemmens campus) and the Ecole Supérieure des Arts in Mons. He also regularly gives masterclasses, particularly in Italy, Croatia, China and Colombia. Several years ago, the University of Newcastle in Australia invited him to contribute to "The oboe reed making DVD", a research project exploring the art of making oboe reeds.
Bram Nolf’s oboe and cor anglais are made by the French maker Marigaux, for whom he is also an ambassador.
