Mathias Coppens
Mathias Coppens (1988) is a Belgian pianist-composer based in Los Angeles, California. He graduated with the highest distinction for piano and composition under the supervision of Levente Kende and Wim Henderickx at the conservatory in Antwerp and graduated in composition with excellence at the conservatory of Amsterdam where his teachers were Willem Jeths and Wim Henderickx. Mathias graduated at the famous screen scoring department of the University of Southern California. He is an assistant of Aaron Zigman ('The Notebook', 'Sex and the City', etc.) and works as an orchestrator and freelance composer. He performs regularly as a pianist with London-based violinist Jens Lynen, as an accompanist with choirs, in different chamber music series or dance productions. As a pianist he has played several times with orchestras, and as a composer he has written for some leading Belgian and Dutch ensembles/orchestras such as 'I solisti del Vento', Bl!ndman, Brussels Philharmonic, Asko-Schönberg ensemble, Atlas ensemble, Hermes Ensemble, Mosa Trio, Kugoni Trio, Casco Phil, Symphony Orchestra of Flanders and others. Mathias wrote the music for more than 20 films which were selected for numerous festivals across the USA and Europe. He is the pianist and artistic leader of the ensembles deCompagnie and a founding member of Tetragonist. Both ensembles have recorded albums. He is the artistic director of The Piano Festival in Amuz, Antwerp. Mathias is currently living in Los Angeles. Before he moved he was for several years a professor at the conservatory of Antwerp in analysis, composition, improvisation and piano (second instrument). He was also professor of harmony and improvisation at the Luca School of Arts, Campus Lemmens.