Joost Van Kerkhoven is active as a composer, improviser and pianist. He studied piano, music theory and cultural studies at the Antwerp Conservatory, the Hochschule für Musik Hannover and the KULeuven. He was taught by Levente Kende, Jozef De Beenhouwer, Wim Henderickx and Karlheinz Kämmerling, among others. He also received valuable advice from Charles Rosen, Herbert Seidel and Peter Swinnen.
For the past few years he has been concentrating more and more on electronic composition and writing and has been taking classes with Annette Vande Gorne. He also does research on improvisation, algorithmic thinking in music and semiotics. His inspiration comes mainly from the French traditions (akoesmatic composition, spectralism) but also from jazz and ethnic music.
He is a laureate of several competitions and teaches among others Keyboard Practice and Literature Studies of the 20th century at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. He also teaches composition and piano at the academies of Vilvoorde and Herentals.
Associated with the KCA as: teacher of keyboard practice, literature of the 20th century.