Belgian conductor Roeland Henkens, based in Oslo, is one of Belgium’s foremost young conductors and is increasingly in demand across Scandinavia and Europe.

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What makes him distinctive as a conductor is his rare combination of full professional training and deep orchestral experience as a principal trumpet. Roeland chose to complement his orchestral career with a comprehensive conducting education at the Norwegian Academy of Music, studying with Ole Kristian Ruud. He went on to hold assistant conductor positions with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and the Norwegian Opera & Ballet, and was selected for the elite Dirigentforum program (Talent Norway and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB), receiving mentorship from James Gaffigan, Ed Gardner, Hannu Lintu, Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Jorma Panula, Johannes Schlaefli, and Nicolas Pasquet. 

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He is also currently part of the Lead Foundation, following the guidance of Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Sarah Ose, to continue developing his artistry at the highest level.

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At the same time, he built a distinguished career inside the orchestra as Solo Trumpet and brass section leader at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, appeared as Guest Principal Trumpet with orchestras in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the UK, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and gave masterclasses across Europe and beyond.

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His conducting career has led to invitations with the Brussels Philharmonic, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the PhilZuid, the Norwegian Opera & Ballet, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Youth Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Minsk, the Ataneres Ensemble, and the Barratt Due Academy Orchestra in Oslo.

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As an instrumentalist, Roeland has also been recognized internationally, winning first prize and the Musicality Award at the Concours International de Musique de Chambre de Lyon with the Brass Quintet Eburon, the Trumpet Category of the Aeolus International Competition for Wind Instruments in Germany, and the Belgian Cultural Prize by the City of Beringen.