Marnix De Cat

The Belgian counter-tenor, conductor, organist and percussion player, Marnix De Cat, studied at Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege Brussel (1979-1985). He graduated from the Lemmens Institute in Leuven (Hogeschool voor Wetenschap & Kunst, 1985-1992), earning a First Prize in organ (under Reitze Smits), harmony and counterpoint. He also studied singing, percussion and fugue, and received a First Prize in choral conducting. (under Erik Van Nevel)

 

Marnix De Cat sings and plays music from 14th to 21st centuries, specializing in Ars Nova, Renaissance, Baroque, Early Romantism and Contemporary.

He grounded his own vocal Pluto-ensemble to work out his ideas on different music-scenes.

Marnix is a permanent member of the Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam (alto, since 2002). From 1996 till 2013 he has been one of the four permanent core members of the

Capilla Flamenca, participating in its worldwide tours.

In addition, he regularly collaborates with the Collegium Vocale Gent, Currende ensemble, Weser Renaissance, Huelgas Ensemble,..

He also has been raising his visibility as a soloist as well performing with conductors such as Gustav Leonhardt, Philippe Herreweghe, Jos van Immerseel, Manfred Cordes...

Several modern dance performances co-opted him as a singer for their tours, among others: Iets op Bach (A.Platel), Foi (S.L.Cherkaoui), and Bâche (K. Augustijnen).

 

You can hear Marnix De Cat on about 90 CD-recordings.

 

Marnix was replacing organist at St-Michielscathedral Brussels (1988-1993), and was organist for several years at the Church of St-Geertrui in Leuven. He taught at Hogeschool WENK, Campus Lemmensinstituut, Leuven, Belgium (1992-1996) and in the Aquariusproject for kids (Antwerp), and had his own keyboardschool (1992-1998).

Marnix De Cat was the singer-coach of the BL!NDMAN saxophone quartet.

Together with jazz saxophonist Hugo Boogaerts, he formed the duo OrgaX, a unique combination of organ and saxophones, with an accent on improvisation and a mix of styles. To cap it all, he is also active as a composer and regularly collaborates on music projects for young people, and as a vocal ensemble coach.