Lode Mertens

Lode Mertens started studying music at an early age in the local "stedelijke muziekschool", wher he took fluegelhorn and piano. He later switched to the trombone and studied "muziek-humaniora" at the Lemmens Instituut in Leuven (B), where he studied classical solfege, music theory, harmony and instrument. At the age of 18 he obtained a First Prize in solfege cum laude.

When he was 19, he joined the music conservatory of Ghent where he was a student of the jazz department a.o. with Marc Godfroid and took a class in Hafabra conducting with composer/conductor Dirk Brossé. In 98 he obtained a diploma "meester in de muziek".

He had the opportunity to play with Bert Joris, Serge Plume, Kris Defoort, Dré Pallemaerts, John Ruocco, etc...

Lode Mertens is a member of the Brussels jazz orchestra. Under their conducting, he played among others the music of Maria Schneider, Kenny Werner, Toots Thielemans, Bert Joris, Michel Herr, Erwin Vann etc...

He is also a member of the High voltage Sextet, a vigourous example of post-bop jazz led by trumpet player Nico Schepers.

In 1996, Lode Mertens took over the musical direction of the Fanfare (marching band) "Sint-Cecilia Geraardsbergen", raising its level to a Concert Band.