Infected by the organ bug in Chris Dubois' class at the Bruges Conservatory, Bart Naessens studied at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven with Prof. Luc Ponet. In his class, he learned not only to focus on organ playing itself, but to create a broad focus, to expand the musical spectrum, and to have a fundamental respect for the intrinsic beauty and profound power of Art and the Beautiful. After a few years, this led him to Paris, where he obtained his specialized organ diploma (the so-called Prix d’excellence) in "French symphonic organ music" with the highest honors and congratulations from the jury.
In May 2007, he graduated in harpsichord with Kris Verhelst, and in September 2008, he earned his Master's degree in orchestral conducting with flying colors in the class of Edmond Saveniers. He has participated in masterclasses with Roland Börger (orchestral conducting), Ben van Oosten, Ludger Lohmann, Louis Robillard, Leo Van Doeselaar, Menno Van Delft, Trevor Pinnock, Skip Sempé, and others. Since the autumn of 2011, he has been pursuing a doctoral degree at KU Leuven, studying the performance-practice implications of the use of the 'claviorganum'.
Bart's musical activities span many different fields. On the one hand, he is a highly respected and esteemed continuo player (partly due to his years of studying "early music" and its correct historical performance practice). On the other hand, he is seen both as a soloist and in chamber music on concert stages at home and abroad, performing a wide variety of repertoires, ranging from early polyphony to creations by contemporary composers. This has allowed him the privilege, even at a young age, of performing with and being invited by leading musicians and renowned ensembles and orchestras, such as Ensemble Explorations, Zefiro Torna, Il Gardellino, Collegium Vocale Ghent, the Flemish Radio Choir and Orchestra, the Netherlands Bach Society, Currende (consort), the Choir and Orchestra of the Royal Mint Theatre, La Hispanoflamenca, and others.
Since 1999, Bart has been the titular organist at Saint-Gilles Church in Bruges. His teaching activities take place at the academy in Blankenberge and at the Lemmens Institute's art school in Leuven, where he teaches organ and harpsichord. In addition, since September 2012, he has been a harpsichordist-accompanist for the French-speaking section of the renowned Royal Brussels Conservatory and for the early music department of the Lemmens Institute.
Bart is increasingly focusing on conducting and is regularly invited as a guest conductor by various choirs and orchestras. For example, he is the rehearsal coach and conductor for several productions at the Flemish Radio Choir. He is also the artistic director of the Roeselare Chamber Choir, with which he primarily explores the lesser-known and lesser-performed chamber choir repertoire in a unique, deeply musically inspired way.
Recently he has wished to give his insights and passions his own interpretation. Partly for this reason, in 2007 he and his wife Amaryllis Dieltiens founded the ensemble Capriola di Gioia, where they aim to focus on the performance practice of the baroque repertoire in an original and affected way. In 2010 a long dream was realised with the foundation of the ensemble BachPlus, where he and Elisabeth Hermans aim to create a platform for the performance of the (cantata) repertoire of J.S. Bach and his contemporaries. This project is currently translating into a special success at home and abroad and knows how to charm many music lovers with their original and unique approach to the Bach oeuvre. He is also the founder-conductor of the orchestra X-travaganza, where he has already been heard on (inter)national stages in numerous and diverse productions.