Jos van Immerseel

Conductor

Jos Van Immerseel was born in Antwerp and studied piano (under Eugène Traey), organ (Flor Peeters), harpsichord (Kenneth Gilbert), song (Lucie Frateur) and orchestral conducting (Daniel Sternefeld). In 1973, he won the first Paris harpsichord contest. His wide interests led him to the autodidactic study of organology, rhetoric and historical pianofortes.

In addition to giving masterclasses in Europe, America, and Japan, he has also taught at the Scola Cantorum Basiliensis, the Conservatoire National Supérieure in Paris and the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. As a guest conductor he has led, amongst other ensembles, the Academy for Ancient Music in Berlin, the Vienna Academy and Musica Florea in Prague. During that time, he built up a unique collection of historical keyboards instruments which were cared for by him and which accompanied him to his concerts. In 1987, Jos van Immerseel formed his own ensemble, Anima Eterna, which gradually developed into a symphony project orchestra, always using historical instruments.