Jan De Winne studied flute, chamber music and transverse flute at the conservatories of Gent and Brussels and graduated in musicology and art history at the University of Gent.
He completed his traverso studies with Barthold Kuijken. He was a finalist of the prestigious international early music competition in Bruges in 1987. He has been a member of the Collegium Vocale and the Orchestre des Champs-Elysées (PhilippeHerreweghe) for more than 15 years.
In 2004 he decided to concentrate his energy and enthusiasm into the organisation and development of his own ensemble il Gardellino, which he founded with Marcel Ponseele in 1988. As a member of il Gardellinoand as a soloist he has been performing in Europe, Asia, South and North America and he recorded over 60 CDs for Accent, Ricercar, Harmonia Mundi and Passacaille. His passion for period instruments led him to research early flutes and to make baroque and classical flutes since 1988.
Since 2006 he is the artistic director of the record label Passacaille. Jan De Winne teaches traverso at theConservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danceof Parisand leads the early music department of the Royal Conservatoryof Brussels (KCB).