Kurt Bertels is a classical saxophonist and postdoctoral researcher. His particular field of research is historically-informed performance, patronage, dedicating music, nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century (saxophone) performance practice, transnationalism and mobility and music.
In his doctoral research, he conducted research on the history of the first Brussels saxophone class at the Royal Conservatory Brussels (1867-1904). His research focused on the performance practice, the context, and the repertoire of the saxophonists who studies at the Brussels Conservatory. Currently, his postdoctoral research concentrates on the relation between dedication and patronage and the performance practice and the early-twentieth-century saxophone.
Bertels obtained numerous national and international prizes and was awarded the Fuga Trophee of the Union of the Belgian Composers for promoting Belgian music. He has given lectures and masterclasses in Belgium and abroad. He released various CDs with nineteenth-century Belgian saxophone music including The Saxophone in 19th-Century Brussels and Works for Saxophone and Orchestra by Paul Gilson. His Een ongehoord geluid, a monograph on the saxophone in 19th-century Brussels, was published in 2020. In 2022, he became member of the editorial board of the scientific saxophone journal The Saxophone Symposium (US).
Kurt Bertels is an elected member of the Young Academy of Belgium (2021-2026).