Inge Smedts

Internationally she was also very welcomed in masterclasses with, among others, Gaby Pas-Van Riet, Andrea Lieberknecht, Jonathan Snowdon, William Bennet and Peter-Lukas Graf. With various youth orchestras she gained experience both in Belgium and abroad under conductors such as Peter Rundell, Michel Tilkin and Robert Groslot.

In 2017 Inge obtained a second master’s degree with high distinction for piccolo in the class of Peter Verhoyen at the Conservatory of Antwerp. Her artistic project Cocktail Maison was awarded the highest distinction (19/20). Due to her interest in folk music, Inge joined the popular balfolk group Anveld and the pop-folk group Ayunda, and also earned a bachelor’s degree in “Folk and Early Music” for bagpipes and baroque musette with Jean-Pierre Van Hees at the Lemmens Institute (Leuven). With these ensembles she performed on major folk stages such as Dranouter and Folkwoods (NL).

Inge was first flute for nine years and since 2015 has been first piccolo with the Royal Music Chapel of the Belgian Guides. She is also the flutist of the Scarlet Harptrio, the harp duo Casual Chic and woodwind quintet Amarant(+), and regularly plays as a freelance musician in chamber ensembles and orchestras or for CD recordings. As a soloist she has already performed at home and abroad, from Norway to China, on flute, piccolo and bagpipes. She also premiered concerti written for her at venues such as the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik (Iceland) and the Blue Hall of deSingel in Antwerp (2017).

In 2013 she became world champion as soloist with percussion ensemble De Herleving Brussegem with the highest distinction and congratulations from the jury at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade (NL), performing a concerto written for her for flute, alto flute, piccolo and Flemish bagpipes with percussion orchestra.

In November 2013 Inge released the CD Casual Chic with music for flute and harp, accompanied by films and poetry. This CD was also her debut as a producer and was released on her own label IS Productions. At the end of 2017 her second album Cocktail Maison was released, featuring music written for her for flute, piccolo, alto flute and marimba / vibraphone in combination with cocktails and hip-hop.

Inge earned her teaching diploma in 2003 at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and in 2004 earned credits for her psychology propedeuse at the Open University.

Inge is, in addition to her activities as a performing musician, also active as a teacher of flute, piccolo and bagpipes and as a coach for woodwinds, and she is a much-in-demand jury member for exams and competitions.