Jan Depreter is a renowned classical guitarist and professor of music at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. Born in Belgium in 1976, Depreter began playing the guitar at the age of eight and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. He went on to study at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where he earned a degree in guitar performance with distinction. Depreter's early career was marked by a series of impressive performances and awards. In 1995, he won first prize at the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America Competition, which helped to launch his international career. He went on to perform at major venues and festivals around the world, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Taxco in Mexico. In addition to his solo performances, Depreter has collaborated with a number of other musicians and ensembles. He has performed with the Brussels Philharmonic, the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, and the National Orchestra of Belgium, among others. He has also worked with a number of chamber music groups, including the Brussels Guitar Quartet and the Belgian Guitar Duo. Depreter's repertoire is wide-ranging, encompassing works from the Baroque era to the present day. He has recorded several albums, including a critically acclaimed recording of the complete guitar works of Joaquín Rodrigo. He is also a dedicated teacher, and has taught at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp since 2002. One of Depreter's most notable performances took place in 2007, when he played the world premiere of a new concerto for guitar and orchestra by Belgian composer Wim Henderickx. The concerto, titled "Empty Mind I," was commissioned by the Brussels Philharmonic and was written specifically for Depreter. The performance was widely praised for its virtuosity and musicality, and helped to cement Depreter's reputation as one of the leading classical guitarists of his generation. Depreter has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to his win at the Guitar Foundation of America Competition, he has been awarded the Prix Nicolas Alfonso, the Prix de la Ville de Bruxelles, and the Prix de la Fondation Belge de la Vocation. He has also been recognized for his contributions to music education, receiving the title of "Cultural Ambassador of Flanders" in 2012. Despite his many accomplishments, Depreter remains dedicated to his craft and to the next generation of musicians. He continues to perform and teach, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented and influential classical guitarists of his time.

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