Born in Brussels, Philippe Raskin began his musical journey at a very young age and has since earned praise for his expressive and authoritative performances. Critics have described his playing as “radiantly commanding, generous, and emotionally engaged” (La Libre Belgique) and “marked by striking confidence” (Mundo Clasico).
Philippe’s early piano education was guided by Russian conductor Aleksandr Friedland, followed by studies with Bernadette Malter and Loredana Clini. He continued to refine his craft under the mentorship of renowned pianists Vincenzo Balzani, Ralf Gothóni, and Leon Fleisher, while also studying chamber music with Johannes Meissl and Hatto Beyerle.
At just 16, Philippe was accepted into the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, studying under Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden. That same year, he earned his first diploma with the highest distinction. He then advanced to the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, again under Vanden Eynden, graduating with top honors and receiving his diploma from Her Majesty the Queen of Belgium. Simultaneously, he completed a Master’s degree in both piano and chamber music at the Royal Conservatory.
In 2005, Philippe continued his education at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid, studying for four years with Dimitri Bashkirov and Claudio Martínez Mehner. During his first year, he was honored with the Sobresaliente Prize by Her Majesty the Queen of Spain at the Pardo Palace. In 2010, he pursued a “Diplôme de Spécialisation” at the Strasbourg Conservatory under Amy Lin, once again graduating with highest honors. Between 2012 and 2013, he studied with Leonel Morales.
A laureate of numerous national and international competitions, Philippe has earned awards at the J.S. Bach Competition, the Gretry Rotary Competition, the Paris International Piano Competition, the Lions Club Competition, and the André Dumortier International Piano Competition. In 2012, he was a prizewinner at the Lyon International Piano Competition and won first prize at Madrid’s “Spanish Composers” International Piano Competition.
Philippe has performed extensively as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist across the globe. His appearances have included prestigious venues such as the Grand Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Moscow), the Shanghai Conservatory, the Musikverein (Vienna), and the Philharmonie (Berlin). He was also invited by the Chopin Foundation to perform at Chopin’s birthplace in Poland. He frequently collaborates with orchestras including the Belgian National Orchestra, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, and the Salzburg Chamber Soloists. His chamber music collaborations have included celebrated musicians like Clemens Hagen, Jérôme Pernoo, and Miguel Da Silva.
An advocate of contemporary music, Philippe has premiered several new works, with numerous compositions written specifically for him. These include Stringent & Tremulation by Jean-Marie Rens, Piano Sonata by Serkan Gürkan, Sonata Der Hunt by Christoph Ehrenfellner, and Talxochimaco by Michel Béro.
Philippe is frequently invited to serve on the juries of major international piano competitions, including Milan’s “Piano Talents” Competition, the Lyon International Piano Competition, and Cologne’s “MozArte” Competition. He is the artistic director of both the César Franck International Piano Competition and the International Music Festival (IMF) in Paris, and a recurring jury member for contests such as the “Spanish Composers” Competition in Madrid, “Valsesia Musica,” and “Cita di Cantu.”
In 2009, Philippe founded his own piano school and has since led masterclasses throughout Belgium and internationally. In 2016, he was the artistic director of the "Résonances Musique de Chambre" Festival in France and began teaching at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. He currently holds faculty positions at three prestigious institutions: the Talent Music Master Courses University of Music in Brescia (Italy), the Paris European Academy of Music (France), and the "Friedrich Gulda" School of Music in Vienna (Austria).
