Jo Haazen

Jo Haazen (born Antwerp, 24 December 1944) is a Flemish musician/carillonneur.

He studied organ and piano accompaniment at the Royal Flemish Music Conservatory in Antwerp and carillon at the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn" in Mechelen. From 1968 till 1981 he was appointed municipal carillonneur in Antwerp. He was instructor of aesthetics, music education, and Esperanto at the Van Celst Institute for Languages, Secretarial Studies, and Tourism and taught Esperanto at the Antwerp Continuing Education program for languages.

As the first laureat of the 8th, 9th, and 10th International Carillon Competition of the Holland Festival in Hilversum in 1966–68, he evolved as one of the best carillonneurs of his generation. His legendary recitals from the tower of the Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady attracted thousands of listeners. Jo Haazen was undeniably a fundamental force in the renaissance of the carillon art in Flanders following World War II and is regarded as a figure of eminence in the carillon field. From 1981 till 2010 he was municipal carillonneur in Mechelen and director of the "Jef Denyn" Royal Carillon School.

Jo Haazen performed many concerts all over the world and is undoubtly the finest performer of music by Jef Denyn. The Dutch Musicologist and art critic Wouter Paap wrote in the New Rotterdam Courier: “A remarkably talented carillonneur. Haazen’s playing has reached a high level of virtuosity. It is as balanced as it is transparent. It is distinguished in style, and at the same time a joyful, robust musicality emanates, belonging to the best traditions of Flemish tower music.”^[1]

Jo Haazen wrote a five-volume method book for carillon as well as various publications about the carillon art and philosophical subjects. He promoted the carillon arts in Japan, Russia, Ukraine and China and was in 2003 appointed State Carillonneur at the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg (Russia). In 2006 he became professor at the Faculty of Art (Department of Organ, Harpsichord, and Carillon) of the Saint Petersburg State University, as well as a guest professor on the Faculty for Comparative Study of Religions in Antwerp.

Distinctions

• On December 15, 2012 he was launching an international humanitarian project (UEA-UNESCO), in addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with amendments on human duties:http://univdeklar.weebly.com
• On July 11, 2015 he was awarded the Gaston Feremansprize by the Flemish Cultural Association "Marnixring" (Mechelen, Belgium).^[2]

References