Etienne Houben

Etienne Houben (the Netherlands, 1982) studied classical percussion and earned his bachelor's degree with highest distinction and master's degree at the Conservatorium Maastricht, in the Netherlands. During this period he was timpanist and percussionist at the Dutch National Youth Orchestra and had masterclasses from Rainer Seegers (timpanist Berlin Philharmonic), Bert Flas (timpanist Düsseldorfer Symphonic), Tatiana Koleva (marimba), Ruud Wiener (vibraphone) and Franz Lang (snare drum). He worked as timpanist at the Dutch Customs Orchestra and as a percussion teacher. He performed with numerous Dutch professional orchestras as the Limburg and Gelders Symphony Orchestras, Orchetra of the East, André Rieu and the Dutch Royal Marine Band.

As a soloist in 2010 he won the international snare drum competition from the Percussive Arts Society in Fermo, Italy. In 2012 he was accepted at the prestigious Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides, where he currently works as percussionist. He also directs large percussion ensembles. Under his leadership various ensembles won several major national and international championships such as the World Music Contest. As a composer he wrote commissions for soloists as Bart van Grinsven (timpanist Symphony Orchestra of the East) , Leonie Wolters (Flutist Staatskapelle Weimar, Germany), Aron Leijendeckers (percussionist Noth-West German Philharmonic), Inge Smedts (Royal Band of the Belgian Guides) and Nico Schoeters (Belgian National Orchestra) and numerous commissions for large percussion ensembles and ensemble contests as the World Music Contest and Dutch Open Percussion Championships. In july 2018 his first commission for wind band will be premiered. More information about Etienne and his compositions can be found at www.etienne-houben.nl.