Dirk Proost (b. 1961) is an oboist and teaching artist. He studied at the Conservatories of Antwerp and Ghent, where he was awarded First Prizes in Oboe, English Horn, and Chamber Music. Later, he obtained a Master’s degree from the Lemmens Institute.

Since 1985, he has been a lecturer at the Podiumacademie in Lier. In 1989, he co-founded the contemporary music ensemble Champ d’Action, where he was active for ten years as both oboist, director, and artistic leader. With this ensemble, he realized several international productions.

Proost founded multiple ensembles, including intonaRumori, an interdisciplinary collective (1998), Orkest van de Reizende Maan (Orchestra of the Traveling Moon), a unique double-reed orchestra (2001), Banda Azufaifo (with Dick Van der Harst, 2004), and Labo nieuwe Muziek (2004).

Beyond Imagination (2011) marked his first collaboration with floral artist Stef Adriaenssens — a synergy of floral art, music, text, and dance. This was followed by Bloom (2012) and Taste of Three (2013).

He also developed the participatory art project AMI (Art Music Investigation, 2010) and the social-artistic formats IN/OUT, working with inmates (2010), and MULTICOLORS, engaging newcomers and refugees (2015).

Since 2015, he has been teaching contemporary chamber music at Jong Conservatorium, in collaboration with AP University College Antwerp.

For his social-artistic projects, he received the Klara Iedereen Klassiek Award (2020).

His work is characterized by interdisciplinarity and social engagement. He integrates ethnic and contemporary compositions into his musical practice and collaborates with artists from a wide range of disciplines.