Joris Blanckaert started his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Ghent, enrolling for a Bachelor degree in jazz accordion and eventually graduating as a Master of Arts in contemporary composition.
As a live performer he has been member of several ensembles, including ‘bal des boiteux’ (2000–2008) and ‘bOOmfanfare’ (2001–2015). Since 2008 he is artistic director of artist collective Muzi a Zeny. Within this collective he has been collaborating with soprano Elise Caluwaerts, cellist Benjamin Glorieux, choreographer Nelle Hens, writer Sarah Eisa and dramaturge Wannes Gyselinck, with whom he created the chamber opera ‘the Wandering Womb’, the lecture performance ‘Tips & Tricks’ and the ‘My body my instrument’ performances about eye-ear coordination.
Joris’ compositions have been created by ensembles and orchestras including Symfonie-orkest Vlaanderen, Spectra ensemble, Emanon ensemble, Rias Kammerchor, … in venues and festivals such as deSingel, Concertgebouw Brugge, Operadagen Rotterdam, Staatstheater Mainz, BOZAR, MAfestival, … He also creates electronic music and has composed soundtracks for the AURORA light festival (Dallas), TRACK festival (Ghent) en the MiramirO fireworks (Ghent).
In 2010, he composed his first chamber opera, L'Algerino in Italia, commissioned by MAfestival Brugge. This was followed in 2012 by an adaptation of excerpts from four operas by Benjamin Britten commissioned by the Flemish Operastudio. In 2014, he wrote the music for the theatre production 'Sirens' and in 2015 for 'Are we not drawn onward to new erA', two productions by theatre group Ontroerend Goed.
In 2015 he has received the East-Flemish provincial prize for contemporary music for his opera composition ‘elle est moi und töte mich’. From 2016 to 2020 Joris Blanckaert was composer in residence at Music Centre de Bijloke, during which he has created 'The Druids, who know, see and hear nothing’, a +7h performance.
Between 2017 and 2020 Joris Blanckaert has created and collaborated with Klarafestival, Spectra Ensemble, Symfonie-orkest Vlaanderen, Zefiro Torna, Ontroerend Goed and Thomas Bellinck.