Hilke Bauweraerts
Hilke grew up in a musical family and was committed to folk music from an early age. It was inevitable that her roots would lead her to begin practicing music herself. She started her musical studies at the Academy of Music in Schilde, and later at the Arts School in Turnhout. After that she studied for a master's degree in “music therapy” at the LUCA, School of Arts, campus Lemmens Leuven. Although she has practiced numerous instruments since childhood, it was the diatonic accordion that eventually won her heart. At the age of 16 she devoted herself to this great love as an autodidact. To open up the potential of her playing style and let in a fresh breeze of inspiration, she followed workshops from Didier Laloy, Anne Niepold, Martin Coudroy, Simone Bottasso, Stephane Milleret, Aurélien Claranbaux and Emile Verstraeten. Hilke appeared on several stages with her first folk group Sakura, with whom she won the competition at the Lindeboom festival in northern France and released a CD in 2011. She also performed for many years with Duo Brabants Bauweraerts. Being a creative and composing musician, she doesn't shy away from giving it her all to make sure that the music gets the energy it requires. She is currently active in Hidrae (CD 2020), Duo Bauweraerts Van Hees (CD 2017), Marvara (CD 2021), theater company Tal en Thee, Threo … . Hilke also teaches different courses at the Music Academy of Herentals, Mortsel and Deurne and the Art School Musart! in Hasselt. Besides that she gives/makes many workshops for the KIDconcerts of Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and she gave folk workshops in Kalmthout and Gooik and several other workshops for the organization Wisper. Hilke plays an instrument by the French maker Bertrand Gaillard.
