Born in Kortrijk on 28 July 1973, Dimitri studied at the Music Academy of Harelbeke and at the Kunsthumaniora Gent with Yf Bourry. He obtained master degrees in oboe, English horn and chamber music at the Brussels Conservatory with Paul Dombrecht and Alex Van Beveren. After master classes with Thomas Indermühle, David Walter, Alain Denis and Ingo Goritzki, he went on to complete his studies at the Rotterdam Conservatory with Emanuel Abbühl. Dimitri Mestdag was laureate of Belfius Classics in 1991 and the very first Tenuto laureate on English horn in 1996.
Since September '96, he has been soloist English horn of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. Under his inspiring impulse, many composers have already composed works dedicated to him for his beloved instrument. Among them Frits Celis, Erik Desimpelaere, Kalevi Aho, Robert Groslot and Geoffrey Gordon. Dimitri leads a thriving althobo class at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and regularly gives master classes at home and abroad.
Since 2010, he has been artistic director of Arbanassi Summer Music, a unique chamber music festival in Bulgaria, which he founded with his wife Julita Fasseva. In a short time, this festival has become one of Eastern Europe's most innovative and high-profile festivals. More info about Arbanassi Summer Music.
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