Following
preliminary studies at the Leuven based Lemmens Institute, Eric
Hallein
(Roeselare (Belgium), 1958) took up higher musical education studies at
the
Royal Music Conservatory in Brussels. There, he was awarded various
First Prizes
(music theory studies, harmony studies, practical harmony studies,
organ,
harpsichord and chamber music), as well as Higher Diplomas for chamber
music and
harpsichord. Subsequently, he further perfected his studies and skills
in
Maastricht, where he received the Master’s Diploma and the Soloists
Diploma
for Organ. He acquired a comprehensive knowledge of organology and the
practices
of the execution of ancient music, with Harald Vogel to name but one.
In 1981, he was honoured as Laureate by the Horlait-Dapsens
Foundation.
Eric Hallein is proficient in a comprehensive repertoire. He became
acquainted
with ancient music by playing a range of historical instruments as well
as exact
replicas from the 16th up to the 18th century. In addition, he
specialised in
the oeuvre of Johann Sebastian Bach and contemporaries.
Inspired by the symphonic organ at the Roeselare Saint Michael’s
Church, he
further specialised in 19th and 20th century organ repertoire, which
includes
the work of composers such as César Franck, Charles-Marie Widor, Louis
Vierne,
Marcel Dupré, Olivier Messiaen, Flor Peeters, Franz Liszt and Max
Reger.. As a
concert organist, he performed live before audiences in most European
countries
(Belgium, the
Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Czechia) as
well as in South Africa and the US. On various occasions he has made
recordings
for Belgian radio and, to name but a few, also cut studio recordings
such as the
Symfonische orgelmuziek uit Vlaanderen (“Symphonic Organ Music from
Flanders”)
and Flor Peeters, Orgelwerken (“Organ compositions”) CD’s, on which he
performed compositions from the Flemish symphonic repertoire.
Eric Hallein currently teaches organ at the Roeselare and Menen musical
academies as well as harpsichord at the Ypres musical academy. From
1981 till
1996, he lectured Practical Harmony Studies at the Royal Music
Conservatory in
Brussels.
He has officiated as a jury member for organ exams at the Royal Music
Conservatories in Brussels and Ghent, at the Lemmens Institute in
Leuven as well
as for the Pro Civitate national youth competition.
Eric Hallein is titular organist at the decanal Saint Michael's Church in
Roeselare, a founding member of the Roeselare Organ Circle Adriaan Willaert
as well as the leading organiser behind the Roeselare International Organ
Festival. Eric Hallein is a member of the diocesan commission for organs
and bells of the diocese of Bruges.