Françoise Renilde Irma Vanhecke is a Belgian soprano, artist, pianist, music researcher, music lecturer, and vocal coach. She is known for her role of Ida Heiger in Tristesses.Tristesses is a play of She is a music composer under the pseudonym of Irma Bilbao.

Early life and education

Françoise Renilde Irma Vanhecke showed great talent as a singer, pianist, and composer even as a child. She was inspired by the work of Maria Callas, and got into music very early on. She began composing when she was 13 years old. Her talent was soon discovered by Luc Goosen and Jan Decadt, who used her piano pieces as obligatory material at the Urban Academy of Harelbeke. She immediately got very positive reviews.

Vanhecke is a cousin of Nico Felicien Declercq.Revealed at a musical performance "a hundred years ago..." (in memory of their grandparents Irma Helena Lesage and Michel Achiel Renatus Declercq) by Francoise Vanhecke during the opening ceremony of the 2015 International Congress on Ultrasonics, at Arsenal in Metz, France, May 11, 2015

She received her diploma for teaching singing and piano in 1981 from the Ministry of Education, Brussels, Belgium.

In 1995 she wrote 'Jong bloed' on a text by the poet Guido Gezelle, for a broadcast on Classical Radio (Klara) in the town of Kortrijk. One of the spectators, Willem Vermandere, immediately loved it.

In 2000 she received a master's degree in music, specialising in voice from the Lemmens Institute, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the Catholic University of Leuven.

Vanhecke received her PhD degree in musical arts from Ghent University in 2017.

Awards She is a Knight in the Order of the CrownRoyal Decree Belgium, by King Philippe, K.B. 28 februari 2014, ranginneming 15 Nov 2007 and appointed Knight of the Order of Leopold II.Royal Decree Belgium, by King Albert II, K.B. 14 april 2013, ranginneming 15 november 1997

Vanhecke participated in the first Queen Elisabeth Music Competition for singing in 1988 and received wide appreciation from the press and from the community. At the Royal Conservatory of Ghent (Belgium) she received the 1st prize opera, and a special prize "Coens & Willemot"; in 1982, she received the 1st prize in piano; in 1980 she received the 1st prize in singing, and in 1979 a special prize "Aerens & Torck". In 1976 she received the 1st prize for solfège.

In 1987 she has also received the Palmo d'oro at International Chamber Music Competition for Lieder in Finale Ligure in Italy and the Radio 3 award for contemporary Belgian Chamber Music at the Orfeus contest.

Teaching From 1985 to present she has been a professor of singing and opera, vocal ensemble and choir at the Regional Conservatory of Kortrijk. From 2009 until 2010 she has been a professor in singing at the Erasmus College of Brussels at the school for audiovisual and performing arts. From 1979 until 1982 and from 1996 until 2001 she has been a professor in singing, vocal chamber music and pedagogy at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent (Belgium). From 1980 until 1991 she has been professor in singing, piano and vocal ensemble at the Academy of Music in Harelbeke (Belgium). In additional she has taught thematic master classes in Belgium, Brazil, Lithuania, Vietnam, France, Indonesia, and elsewhere.

Research Vanhecke is the pioneer of inhaling singing and known for her research on extended techniques at Ghent University in Belgium.

Discography Three Songs of Passion A Journey Into The Universe, 2021 Illusion, Déluges et Autres Péripéties Annette Vande Gorne, 2020 Klara CD / Flanders Arts Institute Fingerprints #3 Signature from composing Flanders, track 8, Out of Oud by Irma Bilbao, 2019 Claus wandelt Steef Verwee (De Cirkel) – Gemeentebesuur Maarkedaal, Thuis III, 2018 Yawar Fiesta Annette Vande Gorne, opéra acousmatique sur un texte de Werner Lambersy, 2017 Oudenaarde een Hymne, Steef Verwée, Track 7 De Dode vogel, 2014 Crete Soundies, 2012 Mind the gap 87, 2010 Dona Nobis, 2008 Bossy, 2007 Amerikaanse meesterwerken uit de 20e eeuw, 2006 Stefan Meylaers – Portrait of a composer II, 2006 The Voice of Silence, 2002 The Blind Tongue, 2001 La Vieille Dame et la Fille Nomade, 2001 Electro-Acoustic Leo Kupper, 1996 2E2M Collection Paul Méfano, 1996 Gilberto Mendes Chamber Music, 1995 Belgian Contemporary Music, 1995 Wat vroeger was, is nu voorbij, 1994 Portretten, 1993 Dwalingen/Errrances, 1993 Le caravane du Zaire de Gréty, 1991 Chant et Piano Erik Satie, 1987 Le Jugement de Midas, 1981/1987 Pygmalion, 1981

Compositions (as Irma Bilbao) Instrumental

Piano, violin and cello Spirto 3: 2010 / dedicated to Lieven Debrauwer & Danielle Baas / First performance 'Femmes du monde, sur les traces de Chopin', Centre Armillaire, 1090 Bruxelles. Performed by Trio Européen: Elisabeth Deletaille, violin – Bruno Espiola, cello – André Grignard, piano. International performance: 2011, Philharmonic society in Yekaterinburg / chamber hall. Russian première of Liszt-trio: Eugenie Markov, violin – Natalia Kabilkova, cello – Vladimir Ignatenko, piano. The 2011 concert was recorded by Oleg Vachrushev. Impression of the concert by Canary Burton (Seabird Studio, US Radio): "I am still glowing about the whole concert. A major event in my musical life. The musicians were wonderful. Rather like our Carnegie Hall. A big hall and a chamber hall both with the huge posters. Nice audience too." (audio)

Piano Uit mijn wereldje: 1971 Performed in Belgium Musette: 1971 Romance-Romana: 1972 Performances in Belgium, Bulgaria (2010), 13th International Festival ppIANISSIMO, recording at the National Radio of Sofia (audio) Bim Bam-Bim Bam, children's music: 1972 Study: 1972 Finger exercises: A 1972 Finger exercises B with variations: 1972

4-hands Shadows: 2007 First performance: Festival de Musique Belge Contemporaine EMERGENCE 2007, Péniche Equisonnance, Ittre (Belgium). Performed by Anne van den Bossche and Jean-Noë Remiche.

Solo instrument (other than piano) Obsession for Piccolo (piccolo solo): 2025. Dedicated to Peter Verhoyen.

Instrumental with voice Lascia ch'io pianga (Händel/Bilbao): 2006 for voice and piano. Rencontre (mélodie): 2007 First performance / France, for voice and piano. Joyeux Anniversaire (mélodie): 2007 for voice, piano and bongo (or small percussion): First performance / France 'Jong Bloed': 1995 / Text: Guido Gezelle for voice, piano and bongo. First performance Radio Klara. Ku Soko: 2003 for a solo performance. Text: Swahili. First performance in Belgium, USA, Italy, Germany. Jacqueline Fontyn/Irma Bilbao, for voice, piano and bongo (or little percussion) (audio). Spirto: 2005 (dedicated to Karmella Tsepkolenko), text: "The Tyger" from William Blake and Irma Bilbao. First performance for the 11th International Festival of Modern Art, April 22–24, 2005, Odesa, Ukraine / 2D2N 'Two Days and Two Nights of New Music'. Performed by Françoise Vanhecke. For voice, bongo (or little percussion) and torch. Smek: 2008 (dedicated to Stephan Vermeersch in memoriam Karlheinz Stockhausen) (audio, video Duo Phoenix performing Smek). First performance at Logos Foundation/Gent/Belgium. Performed in Ukraine (International Festival 2D2N Odesa), the Netherlands, Bulgaria (13th International Festival of Contemporary Music/Bulgarian National Radio Concert Studio in Sofia, Lithuanya. For voice, Clarinet Sib, bongo (or little percussion) and torch. Spirto 2: 2010 (dedicated to Milen Panayotov and Stephan Vermeersch) First performance at the 13th International Festival of Contemporary Music/Bulgarian National Radio Concert Studio in Sofia. For voice, piano, Clarinet Sib, bongo (or little percussion) and torch. (audio) Souterliedekens : 2011. An assignment as composer to re-invent the 150 'Souterliedekens' from Clemens non Papa, respecting the original cantus firmus and the Dutch language. (See also the website.) (audio sample with voice; instrumental audio fragment)

Voice 2V2P (2 Voices, 2 Persons and 2 fingerwalking puppets: 2010 (for Moniek Darge & Françoise Vanhecke). First performance, Logos Foundation Gent 2010. Roll Up (for 3 voices/performers): first performance at Performedia Festival 2011/Ponte Nossa in Italy. Bossa Bama: voice poetry for 2 voice performers. Creation at the Audio Art Festival in Kraków 2012, in collaboration with Moniek Darge.

Choir music Kritsa: 2008 for SATB.

Theatre music Club Medea: 2005, theatre music for object theatre for soprano, voice and seadrum/Oceandrum. First performance at the Internationaal Poppentheaterfestival in Belgium and the Netherlands, Germany, Indonesia and Austria.

Poetry Kunst: 2000 Waar is Fleury Rose: 2001 Over the Hills: 2007 Laat me uitspatten: 2009 (exposition Zee)

Soundscape East Crete, Mother Goddess (composed by Françoise Vanhecke/Moniek Darge): 2008–2009. First performance was played at The Experimental Intermedia Foundation in New York City. They (duo Framon) did a live performance at the Colour Out of Space festival in the Sallis Benney Theatre in Brighton, England, in 2009 (on CD 'Crete Soundies' Moniek Darge, edited by Kye, New York). First performance in Belgium at Logos Foundation in Gent in 2010. Gallop (a composition by Françoise Vanhecke and Moniek Darge) : 2011. First performance in concert at ISSUE Project Room in Brooklyn, New York, November 2011. Performance at the Audio Art Festival in Kraków, Poland (2012).

Improvisations Free Breeze: 2007 (together with Etienne Rolin) and many others used for contemporary performings and CD's.

Electro pop Dona Nobis CD (text & music project) together with Peter Clasen (MySpace Dona Nobis).

Productions

Productions in Belgium

2010 – 2011 Before your very eyes – vocal coach 2009 – 2010 That night follows day – vocal coach De noces/svadebka/de bruiloft – singer Les noces/svadebka/le mariage (Russian version) – singer 2008 – 2009 Frères de la charité (French version) – vocal coach Honger – vocal coach Broeders van liefde – vocal coach That night follows day – vocal coach 2007 – 2008 That night follows day – vocal coach Broeders van Liefde – vocal coach De noces/svadebka/de bruiloft – singer 2006 – 2007 That night follows day – vocal coach Al Amin Dada – piano Al Amin Dada – singer 2005 – 2006 De noces – singer 2004 – 2005 Übung – vocal coach Genoveva, ... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – actress 2003 – 2004 Golven – play Genoveva, ... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – actress Geneviève, si chaste, si pure – play Übung – vocal coach 2002 – 2003 Geneviève, si chaste, si pure – play 2001 – 2002 Golven acteur Genoveva, ... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – musical direction Geneviève, si chaste, si pure – play Genoveva, ... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – actress 2000 – 2001 Pretty Sticks – vocal coach Genoveva, ... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – musician 1999 – 2000 Genoveva, ... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – musician Pretty Sticks – vocal coach 1998 – 1999 Genoveva, ... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – actress Genoveva, ... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – musical direction Bernadetje – vocal coach 1997 – 1998 Bernadetje – vocal coach Genoveva,... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – musical direction Genoveva,... zoo kuisch, zoo pure – actress Kung Fu – vocal coach 1996 – 1997 De affaire van de rue de Lourcine – actress Bernadetje – vocal coach De affaire van de rue de Lourcine – singer De affaire van de rue de Lourcine – vocal coach De affaire van de rue de Lourcine – musical direction 1995 – 1996 Requiem voor een spion – coach Al te luide eenzaamheid – vocal coach Verhalen uit het Weense Woud – vocal coach Gisteren – coach 1994 – 1995 Het Westvlaams Volkstoneel 1993 – 1994 Onder de torens – vocal coach Tante Euthanasie gaat achteruit – musical direction Storm – vocal coach Hortense – actress

Productions in France 2010 Est-Ouest "Sur les traces du Transsibérien, la russie invitée". Récital lyrique et poétique : Russian Landscape avec Françoise Vanhecke, soprano et piano / Harold David, récitant au Théâtre Les Aires et Atelier chant "Découvrir sa voix" Ateliers sous la Yourte 2009