VI.BE

Astrid Mertens is a Belgian classical guitarist who discovered her love for the instrument at a young age. Captivated by the guitar’s unique blend of delicacy and power, she quickly realized it was a passion she wanted to pursue.

She earned her master’s degree Magna Cum Laude at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp, under the guidance of Omán Kaminsky and Roland Broux. She has also participated in masterclasses with some of the world’s leading guitarists such as Pavel Steidl, Antigoni Goni, Zoran Dukić, Carlo Marchione, and many more — experiences that continue to inspire and shape her musical journey today. In the summer of 2023, Astrid was selected to join the Volterra Project, a prestigious international summer institute for classical guitar founded by Antigoni Goni and described by Classical Guitar Magazine as “groundbreaking.”

She has a deep love for 20th-century repertoire, especially music written by Joaquín Rodrigo. Both his Concierto de Aranjuez and the Concerto pour Guitare et Petit Orchestre by Heitor Villa-Lobos, she performed multiple times in collaboration with pianist Annemie Wuyts.

Her interpretations have been praised for their richness of sound and natural musicality, qualities that define her performances both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. She has shared her music with audiences both in Belgium and abroad.

Astrid thrives in collaborative settings. She is an active chamber musician and performed in various ensembles. Within these ensembles she performed in concerts at festivals such as November Music, Transit Festival, KMSKA Laat – and more. She currently is a member of Ensemble XXI, an ensemble that focusses on the performance of contemporary music. The ensemble often collaborates with contemporary composers and performs their works. In March 2025 she had the privilege to play under the baton of renowned director Ed Spanjaard with this ensemble.

Together with Yenthe Geudens she is one half of the performing guitar duo Duo Otare. Together, they’ve already had the opportunity to perform at venues such as AMUZ, De Singel, Casino Houthalen-Helchteren, and more. Their playing has been described as: “So beautifully balanced, with a wonderful interplay” – Annette Kruisbrink.