Following preliminary studies at the Leuven-based Lemmens Institute, Eric Hallein (Roeselare (Belgium), 1958) took up higher musical education studies at the Royal Music Conservatory in Brussels. There, he was awarded various First Prizes (music theory studies, harmony studies, practical harmony studies, organ, harpsichord and chamber music), as well as Higher Diplomas for chamber music and harpsichord. Subsequently, he further perfected his studies and skills in Maastricht, where he received the Master’s Diploma and the Soloists Diploma for Organ. He acquired a comprehensive knowledge of organology and the practices of the execution of ancient music, with Harald Vogel to name but one.

In 1981, he was honoured as Laureate by the Horlait-Dapsens Foundation. Kamiel D’Hooghe, Herman Roelstraete, Raymond Schroyens and Herman Verschraegen were his principal teachers.

Eric Hallein is proficient in a comprehensive repertoire. He became acquainted with ancient music by playing a range of historical instruments as well as exact replicas from the 16th up to the 18th century. In addition, he specialised in the oeuvre of Johann Sebastian Bach and contemporaries.

Inspired by the symphonic organ at the Roeselare Saint Michael’s Church, he further specialised in 19th and 20th century organ repertoire, which includes the work of composers such as César Franck, Charles-Marie Widor, Louis Vierne, Marcel Dupré, Olivier Messiaen, Flor Peeters, Franz Liszt and Max Reger.. As a concert organist, he performed live before audiences in most European countries (Belgium,the Netherlands,France,Germany,Italy,Spain,Sweden,Poland,Czechia) as well as in South Africa and the US. On various occasions he has made recordings for Belgian radio and, to name but a few, also cut studio recordings such as the Symfonische orgelmuziek uit Vlaanderen (“Symphonic Organ Music from Flanders”) and Flor Peeters, Orgelwerken (“Organ compositions”) CD’s, on which he performed compositions from the Flemish symphonic repertoire.

Eric Hallein currently teaches organ at the Roeselare and Menen musical academies as well as harpsichord at the Ypres musical academy. From 1981 till 1996, he lectured Practical Harmony Studies at the Royal Music Conservatory in Brussels.

He has officiated as a jury member for organ exams at the Royal Music Conservatories in Brussels and Ghent, at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven as well as for the Pro Civitate national youth competition.