I often get commissioned to write music for other musicians and musical (sometimes multi-disciplinary) projects.
Here you will find some examples of recent projects. Feel free to contact me for more information if you are looking for a composer for your project!

Alimono

This summer I spent some time in Greece, where I did the complete tuning system workshop with saxophonist Hayden Chisholm. We actually also learnt some Serbian and Greek songs, which inspired me to write this string quartet. It is called “Αλίμονο”, which is an old Greek word that is often used in daily life, but hard to translate. It is often translated as “alas” or “woe”, but the real meaning is more complex. It has a pretty dramatic (δράμα!) side to it, but at the same time it is often used in an ironic way. If you want to know what it means, ask some Greeks, and you will have a conversation for hours!

Amèle Metlini– violin
Julien Guillain – violin
Marie Ghitta – viola
Annemie Osborne – cello

Valicha

I made an adaptation of traditional Peruvian Andean song “Valicha” for the band Araponga, a band inspired by the Peruvian diva Yma Sumac. Stylistically I blended the styles Exotica, Traditional Peruvian Andean music and jazz.

Valicha was recorded in November 2023 in Wood Studio in Liège. 

Adelaïde Supiot – voice
Alice Riberolles – trombone
Gaspard Mathelin – trumpet
Alexandre Eskandar Hessabi – guitar
Anaïs Moffarts – electric bass
Pierre Ferrand – drums
Karen van Schaik – flute, baritone saxophone, arrangement

With Sleepless Care (Dark Blue Nearly Red)

Dark Blue Nearly Red is a composition by electric bass player and composer Michel Hatzigeorgiou, written in rememberence of Dutch musician Sanne van HekDavid Linx wrote the lyrics. I arranged this composition for Michel Hatzigeorgiou on Fender bass, David Linx on lead vocals, choir of 8 singers, string section, harp, oboe, flute, alto flute and clarinet. More news will follow!

Hymnos

I wrote this arrangement of Michel Hatzigeorgiou’s composition “Hymnos” for a “harmonic orchestra” in Bastogne, lead by François Ruelle. It will be played at the inauguration of the new cultural centre of Bastogne. The title Hymnos has a playful double meaning. The composition “Hymnos” is a Hymn and the word “γυμνός” in Greek means naked. Depending on the finishing date of the building process, “Hymnos” is planned be performed before the end of 2024. Michel Hatzigeorgiou will play the mandolin part.

Narcissist Trap

Here is a short piece I wrote for string quartet. It is a reminder to oneself to not fall into the trap of toxic people. (But it still happens, alas!).

Orchestration of Poulenc's piano piece "IIIième IMPROVISATION en si mineur" for orchestra

I orchestrated Poulenc’s piano piece “IIIième IMPROVISATION en si mineur” for orchestra. 

Kindred Souls

This piece was written during a residence with circus company Be Flat at Latitude 50, and inspired on/ written for their show “Follow Me.” 
The original instrumentation is two or three saxophones, a drummer and a car horn (hence the honking in the beginning;-). 
It has been featured in the after movie of the project “Follow Us” at CirkL festival in Leuven 2019.

Tenor saxophone – Tom Bourgeois, piano – Nina Kortekaas, double bass – Fil Caporali, drums – Théo Lanau, 
baritone saxophone & composition – Karen van Schaik. Mixing by Manolo Cabras.