Groslot, Robert

Robert Groslot began his career as a pianist. After studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, he gained international recognition through prizes at competitions including the Alessandro Casagrande Competition and the Queen Elisabeth Competition. He subsequently developed a wide-ranging career as a soloist and chamber musician and maintained a longstanding association with the Royal Flemish Conservatoire of Antwerp. He became acting accompanist there on 1 October 1973 and temporary accompanist a year later, before receiving a formal appointment on 29 October 1981. From 1 September 1995, he served as chief music coordinator for both piano and orchestra. On 1 October of that year, he became a first-grade piano teacher, receiving a permanent appointment on 1 January 1996.

Groslot also developed an extensive conducting career. He worked with numerous orchestras and soloists and founded Il Novecento, which became widely known as the resident orchestra of The Night of the Proms. His experience as a performer and conductor also plays an important role in his work as a composer: his familiarity with orchestration, score analysis and the practical capabilities of musicians is clearly reflected in his output.

Groslot’s compositions encompass orchestral music, concertos, chamber music and solo works. His musical language combines rhythmic energy, colour and virtuosity with an expanded tonality and a pronounced sense of form and dramatic development. He places particular importance on playability and on the immediate musical experience of performers and listeners.