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The Wilson ensemble

The Wilson Ensemble is a young, dynamic Belgian ensemble founded by percussionist Titus Franken and violinist Charlotte Knops. Both musicians graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels where they created some beautiful chamber music projects together. From this, the Wilson Ensemble was born.

The combination of percussion and violin is not commonplace, and this is what attracted them to establish the ensemble. Searching for new sound combinations and timbres is what characterises them. The Wilson Ensemble focuses primarily on contemporary music and does not shy away from out of the box projects and unheard of, innovative musical experiences.

Charlotte Knops, Violinist 

At the age of 7, Charlotte Knops started taking violin classes at the Music Academy of Vilvoorde  followed by classes at the Music Academy of Anderlecht with Erik Sluys, with whom she graduated with honors at the Kunsthumaniora Brussel. 

At the age of 17, Charlotte was accepted at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels winning first prize at the Belfius Classics Competition in that same year. Following her Master Studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, she won the audition for an academy place in the Irish Chamber Orchestra as well as the Youth Orchestra Flanders. 

Being laureate of the Osaka International Music Competition in June 2018, Charlotte regularly plays with Ensemble reflektor (DE), European Philharmonia, Chamber Orchestra Flanders, among others.

Charlotte plays on an 1882 Gand & Bernardel frères violin.

Titus Franken, Percussionist

Titus Franken started playing percussion at the age of 5 at the music school of Lebbeke and Buggenhout. After his studies at the Kunsthumaniora of Brussels, Titus was accepted at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in the class of Gert François and Bart Quartier. 

At the age of 19 he started his professional career playing with various orchestras in Belgium and abroad. Titus plays among others with SymfonieOrkest Vlaanderen, the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg, Spira Mirabilis (IT), MusicAeterna (RUS).

Being a permanent member of the Brussels Philharmonic as soloist percussion since 2018, Titus had the opportunity to play some projects with the renowned London Philharmonia orchestra.

Titus was awarded the Horlait-Dapsens prize for his outstanding trajectory at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.