Walter Mertens (b. 1965) began his musical studies at the Academy for Music in Mol. He won a First Prize Percussion at the Royal Conservatory in Antwerp, where he studied with Mr. Louis Caubergs. He obtained the Higher Degree at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven with Mr. Leo Ouderits as his tutor and mentor. To complete his musical studies, Walter Mertens obtained a Master Degree percussion & chamber music at the Royal Conservatory in Antwerp, also guided by Mr. Leo Ouderits.
Walter Mertens currently teaches percussion, ensemble and various instrumental ensembles. He is also coordinator at the Academy for Music in Schoten (Be).
Besides his teaching Walter often participates in workshops, he offers artistic support and is frequently asked as a member of the jury for contests for soloists and ensembles in Belgium and abroad e.g. Vlamo, Belgian Percussion Days 2011, 2012, Perculliria (Sp), Bumfest (Slo), Waubonsie Valley High School (Chicago US), Temsig competition(Slo), National percussion workshops Gdansk (Pl), Colours of Rhytm Nis ( Srb), Ivana Summer Percussion Festival (Hr).
Together with three other professional percussionists, Walter Mertens forms the group '4Pk'.
This renowned quartet arose from the former Mol Percussion Orchestra and plays its own creations at home and abroad.
As a composer, Walter Mertens focuses on teaching methods as well as compositions for percussion solo, duo, ensemble, symphonic orchestra, musical, wind instruments, jazz combo, piano, chamber music and choir. Several compositions won prizes in different competitions or were assignments in national and international contests or manifestations such as WMC in Kerkrade (Nl), Temsig-Slovenian Music Competition for youth (SLO), EMJ Neerpelt (B), Vlamo (B). Most of his music is published by different national and international publishers such as Beurskens (Nl), C. Alan Publications (US,) Golden River Music (B), Southern Percussion (UK), Alfonce Productions (Fr). The oeuvre of Walter Mertens is well-known far beyond the boundaries and one can find it in Europe, America and Asia.
