Nele Delafonteyne studied the clarinet with Walter Boeykens, Ivo Lybeert and Raymond Dils at the Royal Flemish Conservatoire of Antwerp. She obtained her Masters Degree for clarinet and chamber music with great distinction.

In London, she studied with Prof. Andrew Marriner, principal clarinettist of the London Symphony Orchestra. Nele also got inspired by masterclasses with Sabine Meyer, Pascal Moragues and Sjef Douwes.

In september 2021 Nele started to study classical clarinet and historical performance practice at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels with Vincenzo Casale.

Since September 2011 Nele is principal clarinet with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.

Since January 2025 Nele is also principal clarinet with Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (Opera House Flanders).

From 2015-2017 she was guest principal clarinet with the Royal Opera House & Royal Ballet Covent Garden (London). With the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (Hilversum, The Netherlands) and other Dutch orchestras, Nele is a regular guest principal.

From 2007-2011 Nele was guest principal clarinet with the London Symphony Orchestra (with Valéry Gergiev, Bernard Haitink, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Sir John Eliot Gardiner,…) and guest principal with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (London).

As a chamber musician Nele is a fixed member of i solisti (Belgian Wind Ensemble Antwerp) and she is a regular guest with Het Collectief. With Het Collectief Nele made some CD recordings with Reinbert De Leeuw.

In October 2020 Nele performed the world première of the Max Bruch Concerto for Clarinet, Viola & Orchestra, in an arrangement for Clarinet, Cello & Orchestra, with Camille Thomas (cello) & Fabien Gabel & Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in the Elisabeth Hall (Antwerp). In November 2019 she played Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra and also Weber’s Clarinet Concerto n°1 with Philippe Herreweghe.

Nele Delafonteyne has been a laureate in competitons such as Jong Tenuto, The International Clarinet and Piano Competition (Bucharest), Axion Classics and The International Carl Maria von Weber Clarinet Contest (Germany).

From 2003-2005 Nele was principal clarinet with the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) and played with Bernard Haitink, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Lorin Maazel.

Nele is clarinet professor at KASK & Conservatorium.

Also at the Kunstacademie of Beveren (Belgium), Nele teaches a new generation of clarinet players.

Nele is mentor of the Youngstars scheme of I solisti (Belgian Wind Ensemble Antwerp), where she inspires and guides young, talented clarinet players (10-19 years).

With Youth Orchestra Flanders, Nele is woodwind coach to help young professional musicians into an orchestra career.

As a guest professor, Nele has been regulary asked to give masterclasses and coaching sessions on audition training in Belgium and abroad. Nele is a sought-after jury member for examinations and competitions.

On a private base, Nele teaches young professionals or graduated students, who want to perfect themselves.