Koen Maas is a graduate of theKoninklijk Conservatorium vanGent, where he was awardedFirst Prize in Saxophone and inChamber Music and a master’s in music (he was taught by Willy Demey). He also qualifiedas a performing musician at the Conservatorium Maastricht(where he was taught by NorbertNozy).
Over the last few years of hisstudies, he took part in a numberof saxophone competitions and won the National BelgianSaxophone Competition and theJosée Vigneron Competition.
He has played with renownedorchestras such as the EuropeanUnion Youth Wind Orchestra, theNieuw Vlaams Symfonieorkest,the Orchestre National de Lille, Il Novecento, the AntwerpSymphony Orchestra, the BrusselsPhilharmonic, and Opera BalletVlaanderen.
Since 1999, he has been thesoprano saxophone of theBl!ndman quartet which is known for its innovative andexperimental approach. Thequartet is internationallyrenowned and collaboratesregularly with other artists andensembles, including Ivo VanHove, Paul Van Nevel, CollegiumVocale,the Huelgas Ensemble,the Transparant ludic and theatrecompany, the Ictus ensemble, and the Quatuor Danel.
He is also very active as anindependent saxophonist, both in classical and contemporarymusic.
Koen Maas currently teaches atthe music schools in Neerpelt and Mol and is also a professor at the Koninklijk Conservatoriumvan Gent.
Since 2009, he has been an active member of the MusicalCommittee of the InternationalAdolphe Sax Association.
