Bio Robrecht Kessels
Robrecht Kessels earned his Master's degree in music (cello) at the conservatory of Ghent, where he deepened his knowledge of the classical repertoire during his studies. He soon broadened his horizons and became active in various musical contexts. He played with bands such as Orange Pecco (Kinky Star records), Zjef Vanuytsel, Hooverphonic, and Room 13 (with among others Stijn Meuris).
With the group Askany ihe sought the dialogue between traditional African vocal music and the Western string quartet. This special project was artist in residence at Espace Senghor in Brussels and received recognition at festivals such as the Festival of Flanders, the Cervantino Festival in Mexico, and SIMA in Benin.
Additionally, Robrecht is a permanent cellist with Ishtar, the band that gained recognition with the Eurosong hit O Julissiin Belgrade.
Besides his stage career, he is employed full-time at the KATZ Academy of Arts in Torhout, where he teaches cello, improvisation, and music lab. Over the years, his cello class has grown to more than 30 students.
Also in the theatre and dance world, Robrecht left his mark as a composer. His music can be heard, among other places, on the CD Folies de Flandre.
Today he works under the name Ononde on a new phase of his artistic trajectory, in which he gives full scope to his passion for composing. The name Ononde phonetically refers to the repetitive surge of sea waves, to sound waves, and to “in the name of.”