Guy Van Waas, born April 15, 1948, in Molenbeek, Brussels, Belgium, is a conductor, clarinetist, and organist. He studied clarinet under Jean Tastenoe at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, harpsichord under Robert Kohnen at the Mons Conservatory, and conducting under Walter Weller at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Van Waas began his career as a solo clarinetist at La Monnaie opera house in Brussels, and from 1977 to 1991, he played with the Symphony Orchestra of RTBF. His interest in historical performance practice led to collaborations on historical clarinet with ensembles like Frans Brüggen's Orchestra of the 18th Century. In 1992, he founded Das Reicha'sche Quintett. Van Waas gained international recognition conducting Concerto Köln in a recording of a symphony by Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga. In 2001, he became the chief conductor of the baroque orchestra Les Agrémens, leading them to numerous recordings, including works by André Grétry and François-Joseph Gossec. In 2004, he became the titular organist of the Carmelite Church in Brussels.
