Nele Delafonteyne

Nele Delafonteyne studied at the Royal Flemish Conservatory of Antwerp with Walter Boeykens, Ivo Lybeert and Raymond Dils. In 2003, she obtained the 'Master in Music' diploma for clarinet and chamber music with great distinction. In London, she perfected her skills with Prof Andrew Marriner, solo clarinet with the London Symphony Orchestra. Nele found additional artistic inspiration in masterclasses with Sabine Meyer, Pascal Moragues and Sjef Douwes. In September 2021, Nele began Early Music studies at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles. She immersed herself in historical performance practice and historical clarinet (with Vincenzo Casale). 

Since September 2011, Nele has been the solo clarinet with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. From 2015 -2017, she was guest principal at the Royal Opera House & Royal Ballet Covent Garden (London). At Opera Ballet Flanders, the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (Hilversum) and various Dutch orchestras, Nele is regularly asked as a guest soloist. From 2007-2011, Nele was principal clarinet with London Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Valéry Gergiev, Bernard Haitink, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and others) and guest principal with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (London).

As a chamber musician, Nele is a permanent member of the wind ensemble I SOLISTI (Belgian Wind Ensemble Antwerp) and is a frequent guest with Het Collectief and Oxalys. With Het Collectief, she recorded several CDs with Reinbert de Leeuw.

Nele Delafonteyne is a laureate of competitions such as Jong Tenuto, The International Clarinet and Piano Competition (Bucharest), Axion Classics of Dexia Bank (1st prize clarinet and chamber music) and The International Carl Maria von Weber Clarinet Contest (Germany). From 2003-2005, Nele was solo clarinet with the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) and played under the baton of Bernard Haitink, Lorin Maazel and Vladimir Ashkenazy. 

Nele is the principal teacher of clarinet at the KASK Conservatory of Ghent. Also as a clarinet teacher at the Academy of Arts in Beveren, Nele inspires and motivates a new generation of clarinetists. In addition, she gives master classes and coaching sessions in audition training at home and abroad. She is also a sought-after jury member at exams and competitions. Nele also privately coaches and teaches young professional students or graduates who want to perfect their skills.