Joris Derder became the new the Musical Director of the Brussels Choral Society in January 2026. He is a well-known conductor, singer, teacher, and composer from Ghent. Joris’ musical foundation was as a violinist with various (youth) orchestras. After graduating in mathematics, he studied singing and then choral conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. After graduating with the highest distinction, he attended masterclasses such as the Kurt Thomas Course in Choir and Orchestra Conducting, where he worked with conductors Jos Van Veldhoven, Daniel Reuss and Hans Leenders. In 2000, he founded the Ghent University Choir and has been its artistic director ever since. Since 2010, Joris has also been the founder and artistic director of Kamerkoor Koriolis, a chamber choir based in Ghent; then in 2020, he founded the Vocal Collective Air4Six, a vocal ensemble of soloists focusing on romantic and contemporary repertoire. He has also been guest conductor with various ensembles, such as Collegium Vocal Ghent, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Vlaams Radiokoor, Brussels Philharmonic, the Belgian National Youth Choir, Chœur de Radio France, Wiener Kammerchor (AT), Oslo Chorale Selskap (NO), Youth Choir BALSIS from Rīga (LV) and many others.

As a soloist, Joris masters a wide repertoire from Bach’s passions, cantatas and oratorios to the great romantic and classical oratorios and song cycles. He has also appeared in numerous opera and music theatre performances.

As a choral singer, Joris collaborates with the Nederlands Kamerkoor conducted by Peter Dijkstra, Cappella Amsterdam (Daniel Reuss) and Collegium Vocale Gent (Philippe Herreweghe). He was a baritone in the Vlaams Radiokoor from 2005 till 2023 and worked with conductors such as Maris Janssons, Bernard Haitink, Klaus Mäkelä, Richard Egarr, Jos Van Immerseel, Marcus Creed, Kaspars Putniņš and many others.

Joris teaches singing and vocal ensemble at the secondary school GO! Kunsthumaniora Brussel.