Bart Vanhecke was born in Etterbeek on 3 September 1964, and began to play music at the age of eight. He studied in the music academy in Tervuren, then attended the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, where his achievements included a first prize in flute. He was in André Laporte’s composition class in Brussels, and studied with Franco Donatoni at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena. Bart Vanhecke teaches flute at the music academies in Tervuren, Hoeilaart and Zaventem.