Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen

The Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen has developed into an innovative and flexible ensemble that places symphonic music at the heart of society. The orchestra was founded in 1960 by Dirk Varendonck, who was also its first conductor. In 1986, the orchestra took the name “New Flemish Orchestra”, with Patrick Peire, Robert Groslot and Fabrice Bollon as conductors. The orchestra has been known by its current name since 1995. Since then, David Angus, Etienne Siebens and Seikyo Kim, among others, were at the podium. Kristiina Poska has been Chief Conductor from 2019 to 2025. From January 2026, Belgian conductor Martijn Dendievel will take over the position.

Anchored in Flanders but with an open view of the world, the orchestra combines local commitment with international ambitions: from educational concerts in the districts of Ghent to its own concert series in Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges, to prestigious concerts and artistically innovative projects on renowned concert stages at home and abroad.

The Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen is supported by the Flemish government and the city of Ghent and has been based at the Muziekcentrum De Bijloke Gent since 2017.

Season 2025/26

Martijn Dendievel Conductor

Martijn Dendievel is principal conductor of the Hofer Symphoniker and designated principal conductor of the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen from 2026. Since winning the German Conducting Prize in 2021 and receiving various awards at the Donatella Flick Competition and the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam, the Belgian-born conductor has been invited to conduct orchestras worldwide, where he is appreciated for his in-depth knowledge of the repertoire and his lively and expressive conducting.

Dendievel already makes regular guest appearances with orchestras and theatres such as the Philharmonie Zuidnederland, Sinfonia Varsovia and the Teatro Comunale Bologna. In 2024/25, he made his debut with the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra in China, the Mecklenburg State Orchestra Schwerin and the Tyrolean Symphony Orchestra Innsbruck, and accepted repeat invitations to conduct the Brussels Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liège and the Orkest van Gelderland & Overijssel. Most recently, he thrilled audiences in concerts with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchestra Vienna, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and Copenhagen Philharmonic. Dendievel has also conducted the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Rotterdam Philharmonic and Staatskapelle Weimar, among others.

At the age of 14, Dendievel was accepted into the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, where he received a bachelor's degree in music theory with honours. Martijn Dendievel then moved to Germany to study orchestral conducting at the HfM Franz Liszt Weimar with Prof. Nicolás Pasquet and Prof. Ekhart Wycik. He graduated with honours in 2022 and organised several projects in Weimar, including his successful “Festival for Minimal Music Weimar” to mark Steve Reich's 80th birthday. He received a scholarship from the German Music Council's Conducting Forum, which now supports him as a “Maestro of Tomorrow”.

Growing up in a family of musicians, Dendievel first played the violin, then switched to the violoncello and also learned percussion and harpsichord. He gained orchestral experience as a timpanist and cellist in various youth orchestras. He attended masterclasses with Bernard Haitink and Paavo Järvi in Lucerne and Zurich, among others. He also received important inspiration from courses with Christian Thielemann, Iván Fischer, Edo de Waart and Simone Young.

Season 2025/26