Damien Pardoen was born in Nivelles (Belgium) in 1974 and started learning the violin at the early age under the tuition of Yaga Siwy. He continued his training at music academies in Nivelles and Brussels. In 1989 he went to the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where he was taught by Agustin Leon Ara. However, it was in Philippe Koch's class at the Royal Conservatory of Mons that he was awarded his first violin prize with distinction, and at the Royal Conservatory of Liege he received his advanced diploma in violin with a top distinction grade. He studied chamber music under André Siwy at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and won first prize there, again with a top distinction and an advanced diploma with a starred top distinction, both in chamber music. In 1997 he obtained a first-class degree from the Catholic University of Louvain in Physics Engineering. He has also won first prize at three music competitions ; for violin (1991) and for chamber music (1993) at Axion Classics, Dexia Banque Competition; and at the Mathilde Horlaît-Dapsens Foundation Chamber Music Competition in 1994. A great lover of chamber music, Damien Pardoen has played in numerous violin quartets (Capelletti and Tetras), trios, and duets, all over Europe (Belgium, France, Portugal, Poland etc.). He has also taken part in many teaching programmes, masterclasses, and European music festivals. He is currently preparing for international competitions under the tuition of André Siwy. He reached the semi-finals (in sixth place) of the Johannes Brahms Competition held in Pörtschach (Austria). At present he is teaching Philippe Koch's violin class at the Royal Conservatory of Liege.
