Atelier Duerinck is a future spin-off company by master luthier Dr. Tim Duerinck that aims to create durable music instruments of the highest quality with an acoustic sound and playability that rivals the best new and old makers. The instruments are made from flax fiber composite as it offers increased durability and sound properties that compete with the best tonewoods. Each instrument features a novel build-in pickup system for easy, great sounding and reliable amplification of the instrument.

The instruments are the result of years of research at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent, HOGENT college University and Ghent University. First through the PhD project of Tim Duerinck, followed by additional research to improve upon the first prototypes.

To ensure the highest quality, we produce all our instruments completely inhouse in our workshop in Belgium.

Ambassadors:

Four of our instruments are played by the Mana Music Hawaii Quartet.
Part of the proceeds made by the quartet, with our instruments, go to the preservation of Coral Reefs through the Coral Reef Alliance.

Who are we?

Dr. Tim Duerinck

Tim Duerinck (°1991) graduated as a master luthier at the Royal Conservatory Ghent, Belgium. During his education he took an interest in acoustics, publishing his bachelor paper in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. During his master he experimented with different materials and shapes, resulting in the creation of the Styrofoam cello. He continued his artistic research through a PhD in the art of instrument making in a cooperation between Ghent University and KASK & Conservatorium Ghent, resulting in multiple scientific publications. He is also a guest professor at the instrument building department of the Royal Conservatory of Ghent.

Tim Duerinck’s instruments can be found all over the world, from Belgium to Hawaii, and have been used in a variety of international concerts and recordings. They are or have been exhibited as visual pieces of art by Texture Museum, Design Museum Gent, The Cello Museum, Provinciaal Hof Brugge and BOZAR. Composers Patrick Housen and Reinhard Vanbergen have written music specifically for his instruments.
Tim has received multiple awards for his research and instruments: Henry Van de Velde Gold award (2021), Floris Van der Mueren award (2016), Emile Zola award (2016).

Johan Vandermaelen

Johan Vandermaelen (°1962) studied electronic music at the Conservatory of Antwerp and has +40 years of experience making microphones and electro-acoustic instruments. He teaches the course ‘electronic instruments’ at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent. Johan used his decades of experience to develop a custom microphone for the flax fiber instruments of Atelier Duerinck, using a unique new technology not found in any other instruments.