Josefien De Waele

Biography

From the early age of 4, Josefien De Waele expressed a deep desire to play the ‘harp’ that she had seen on a picture on TV. Over the years, this desire has subsequently evolved to be the driving force behind the young Belgian harpist’s growing career.

Currently studying at Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Josefien is completing her Master’s degree, where she is specializing her studies in orchestral work; a particular passion of her’s. At CvA she has the pleasure of working with world-renowned harpists and musicians such as Sandrine Chatron, Erika Waardenburg and Gwyneth Wentink. Alongside her studies in Amsterdam, De Waele is also completing an Academic Master’s in Music at Royal Academy of Arts (KASK) in her families hometown of Ghent, Belgium. Here she also receives lessons from her longtime teacher, and source of inspiration, Arielle Valibouse (solo harpist at the Vlaamse Opera).

Josefien was recently one of the finalists of the Glowing Harp Competition 2021 in Ukraine. Also before that, she has received many national and international accolades for her work, including the international ‘Félix Godefroid’ concours (2017) in Doornik, ‘Petar Konjovic’ competition in Belgrade (2015), ‘Harpegio-concours’ in Brussels (2014,2010) and the ‘MarnixFactor’ music competition (2013). She has also performed at many harp festivals, notably at the ‘Seduced by harps’ festival (2014) and at the 20th edition of the Harpe Diem harp festival in 2013, where she was a highlighted soloist.

In september 2019 she performed in the ‘Chamber music Academy’ in Ferarra,Italy, where she had the pleasure of working with members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE).

As an orchestral harpist, De Waele has worked with many prolific conductors such as Marc Wigglesworth and Anthony Hermus in the her projects with Nationaal Jeugd Orkest (NJO). Additionally, she has also played with composers Vasily Petrenko and Stéphane Denève in her tours with European Youth Orchestra (EUYO). Whilst working with these esteemed youth orchestras, Josefien has performed in iconic music venues such as Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Konzerthaus Berlin, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Royal Opera House Muscat, Grand Auditorium Philharmonie Luxembourg, Rudolfinum Praag, Ateneul Român Boekarest, Teatro Nuovo Giovanni Udine, Congresshalle Saarbrücken.