Meet Margaux Vranken | Pianist/Composer/Arranger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Margaux Vranken and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Margaux, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“The only way to achieve greatness is to think big”. I don’t know from who it is. This quote means everything to me because it is exactly in this mindset that I decided to move to the United States in 2017. And even after going through a lot of changes during the pandemic (I was back in my home country for a while), I decided that I still wanted to be here: it is a huge country with a lot of diversity and a lot of different ways of thinking. It is enriching and confronting the best way possible. .

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started music when I was about 6 years old, and I started playing piano when I was 8. It definitely wasn’t easy, but it almost always was enjoyable. I used to sing In the youth choir of the royal opera house of Brussels as a teenager. I remember how special it felt to be part of a huge family of musicians. I loved every aspect of it : the tech crew, the costumes, the make up, the rehearsals, and then of course, being on stage. It is an amazing collective experience. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to do it professionally! One of the most important lesson I’ve learned along the way though is that we can only truly count on ourselves. Our creativity flow, our motivation, our willingness to create new projects… it all comes from within. Of course, there is a sense of community and solidarity amongst the musicians, but it is a tough environment to be in, and it takes a lot of character to embark on this journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve recently moved to LA and there’s some incredible places here! I love to go hiking. Some of my favorites places are Topanga Canyon State Park and Malibu Creek State Park. If you’re in LA, don’t miss the food vendors on the street: tacos, enchiladas, you name it. For me, it is one of the key elements of the LA food scene! Because I’m a musician, I love to go out to see shows. My favorite places are: Sam First, ETA HLP in Highland Park, the Rhythm Room in DTLA and Gold Diggers, to name a few.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It is probably going to sound very basic, but I’m extremely grateful for my family. My parents and my sister always supported me in my choices and – still to this day – they advise me on my career. I’m extremely lucky to be able to have such a privileged relationship with them. I know it’s not the case for every person who decides to pursue a music career and for that, I want to give them a lot of credit. I also was very lucky to be mentored by incredible musicians and teachers such as. Diederik Wissels (Dutch pianist/composer) who is an incredible friend and mentor.

Website: www.margauxvranken.com

Instagram: instagram.com/mgxvranken

Facebook: facebook.com/margauxvrankenmusic

Youtube: YouTube.com/margauxvrankenmusic

Image Credits
First picture (to represent me): (c) Gulnara Khamatova Second Picture: (c) Roger Vantilt Third Picture (c) Sem Publiek Fourth Picture (c) Roger Vantilt Fifth picture (c) Paul-Jean Vranken