International Conductor and Organist Bart Naessens Leads Three-Day Bach Masterclass at University of the Philippines
Written by Chantal Gapato | December 2, 2025
Renowned Belgian conductor, organist, and harpsichordist Prof. Bart Naessens is leading a three-day lecture and masterclass series on the music of J.S. Bach from December 2–4, 2025, at the David M. Consunji Theater, UP Institute of Civil Engineering. The event is open to the public, with free admission.
The series begins on December 2 with a lecture on conducting early music, followed by a conducting masterclass on the works of J.S. Bach and a Bach vocal masterclass. On December 3, Naessens continues with further Bach vocal and conducting masterclasses. The program concludes on December 4 with a culminating concert featuring works by J.S. Bach.
Prof. Naessens is one of Europe’s leading early music specialists. A graduate of the Lemmens Institute in Leuven and the Royal Brussels Conservatoire, he studied organ with Prof. Luc Ponet and later earned a Prix d’Excellence in Paris for French symphonic organ repertoire. He holds a master’s degree in symphonic orchestral conducting and has participated in masterclasses with leading musicians including Trevor Pinnock, Kazushi Ono, and Bernard Haitink.
His international career spans work as a conductor, continuo player, soloist, and ensemble director, with performances across Europe, the Americas, and Japan. He has been invited by prominent groups such as Collegium Vocale Gent, Flemish Opera, B’Rock, and the Choir and Orchestra of La Monnaie. Since 2019, he has served as Head of the Early Music Department at the Royal Brussels Conservatoire, and in 2020 he was named VRT Klara’s Musician of the Year.
Prof. Naessens is also the founder of the ensembles Capriola di Gioia and BachPlus, both devoted to historically informed Baroque performance and the music of J.S. Bach.
