Lionel Meunier is the founder and artistic director of the award-winning Belgian vocal ensemble Vox Luminis, for which he has garnered international acclaim. Initially studying the trumpet and the recorder in his hometown of Clamecy, he went on to graduate with distinction from the IMEP in Namur, before turning to singing at the conservatory in The Hague. He performed with renowned vocal ensembles such as Collegium Vocale Gent and the Amsterdam Baroque Choir before establishing Vox Luminis in 2004. His international breakthrough came in 2012 with the recording of Heinrich Schütz’s »Musicalische Exequien«. This CD was named »Gramophone Recording of the Year«, leading to numerous concert tours throughout Europe, North America and Asia for Lionel Meunier and his ensemble, as well as several years of residencies at Wigmore Hall, the Aldeburgh Festival, Utrecht Early Music Festival and the Concertgebouw in Bruges. More than a dozen highly successful albums followed, including the recording of Dieterich Buxtehude’s »Abendmusiken« with the Ensemble Masques and Oliver Fortin, which won them a second Gramophone Award in 2019.
With his meticulous yet lively approach to interpretation, Lionel Meunier is now in demand worldwide as a guest conductor and artistic director of choirs, ensembles and orchestras, including the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall, the Netherlands Bach Society, Danish National Vocal Ensemble, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Salzburger Bachchor and the Boston Early Music Festival Collegium. With Vox Luminis, he has directed collaborations with ensembles such as B’Rock, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and L’Achéron. He also collaborates closely with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and its vocal ensemble, with whom he regularly works on joint projects, covering a wide repertoire.

Passionate about music education, Lionel Meunier is a regular guest at the Juilliard School and gives many masterclasses and coaching sessions with his ensemble. This year, he will lead the week-long Musikfest Bremen Atelier »Wege zu Bach« for the fourth time.