Jan Hadermann (b. 1952)

Jan Hadermann was born in Reet on March 12, 1952. As a composer he is best known in the world of brass bands and wind orchestras. His father, both a music-lover and a competent musician (as conductor, composer and violinist), was his first mentor. This first musical education within his family circle was continued at the Music Academy in Hemiksem with Marcel Slootmakers and the well-known piano teacher Liliane Esser Herchuelz. Hadermann pursued his professional training at the Lemmens Institute, first in Mechelen and subsequently in Leuven. There he earned his diploma in composition and music education in 1974, graduating with first prizes in solfège (with Lode Dieltiens), harmony (with Frans Geysen), counterpoint and fugue (with Jos Van Looy) and composition (with Matthy Niël). He went on to study with composer Willem Kersters at the Royal Conservatory in Antwerp, there earning his first prize in composition.

In 1973, Jan Hadermann became a teacher of counterpoint, fugue and electronic-music composition at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven; from 1979 to 2002 he taught harmony and composition at the “Jef Denyn” Royal Carillon School in Mechelen; and since 1994 he has been a guest teacher of band conducting (theory) at the Royal Conservatory in Antwerp. Besides composing and educational activities, he is also active as a conductor and a jury member. He has been a sound engineer for numerous CD recordings and has collaborated on both LP and CD recordings as a music modulator. Jan Hadermann has written for many musical scorings, including symphony orchestra, wind orchestra, piano, choir, various chamber music ensembles and electronic music. In 1993 he won the SABAM band prize, a distinction awarded every 4 years.