(b. 1 October 1953, Kinshasa).

Congolese composer, now resident in China, of mostly chamber and piano works that have been performed in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.

Mr. Vindu studied harmony with Mario Gaolé, orchestration with Jean-Alcide Pierre Cellier, saxophone with Vincent Gérard and Mitzo Mitzov, and solfège with Dols Lambert and Lucy Mansicidor at the Conservatoire de Musique et d'Art Dramatique in Kinshasa from 1969–73. He also studied music at the Université de Kinshasa from 1973–76. He then studied Chinese at the Beijing Languages Institute in 1984–85 and composition with Wang Qiang and Zhao Xiao-sheng, fugue with Chen Ming-zhi and polyphony with Lin Hua at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music from 1985–91, where he earned his BA and MA and where he had postgraduate studies in 1994–95. In addition, he attended courses on Chinese culture at the École pratique des hautes études in Paris in 1991–92.

His music has been performed in China, Congo (Kinshasa), South Africa, the UK, and the USA.

He is also active in other positions. He served as executive secretary to the Conseil Zaïrois de la Musique in Kinshasa, a member of the UNESCO International Music Council, and as secretary to the Jeunesses Musicales in Kinshasa, both from 1982–84. He later served as a music manager and translator for the Shanghai Dainty Food Company in 1995, to the company for cultural development Total in Shanghai in 1996 and to the Shanghai Laina Worsted Mill Company in 1997–98.

He lectured on harmony, music theory, saxophone, and solfège at the Université de Kinshasa from 1976–82. He then undertook research at the Centre d'Études et de Diffusion des Arts in Kinshasa from 1982–84, where he also taught as assistant professor, served as chair of the music department and led the experimental ensemble Maisha. In addition, he taught music at the Studio École de la Voix du Zaïre of Radio Nationale in Kinshasa from 1982–84. He later taught music for the Tsing Mui Piano Company in Hong Kong in 1992 and French for the Alliance Française in Shanghai in 1993. He later taught music privately at the British International School in Shanghai and the Shanghai American School from 1998–2019. He has lectured in China and the UK.

SELECT LIST OF WORKS

ORCHESTRAL:

Ballade, alto saxophone, orchestra, 1989

Symphonic Poem, 1990

Concerto No. 1, piano, orchestra, 2016

Rhapsody, piano, orchestra, 2016

Concerto, alto saxophone, orchestra, 2017

CHAMBER MUSIC:

Variations, violin, 1987

String Quartet No. 1, 1990

Wind Quintet, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1990

String Quartet No. 2, 1994

Duo, oboe d'amore, cello, 2003

Wind Quintet No. 2, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 2015

Saxophone Quartet No. 1, 4 saxophones, 2017

Saxophone Quartet No. 2, 4 saxophones, 2017

VOCAL:

Rhapsodie (text from a folksong from Congo [Kinshasa]), baritone, orchestra, 1996

Nza, baritone, orchestra, 2017

PIANO:

Rêverie, 1986

Fuga No. 1, 1989

Fuga No. 2, 1989

Suite No. 1, 1990

Suite No. 2, 1990

Fuga No. 3, 1994

Fuga No. 4, 1994

Lullaby, 2007

Glory to God, 2015

Homage to Philip Glass, 2015

ARRANGEMENTS:

Congo Folksongs No. 1 (folksongs from Congo [Kinshasa]), soprano, orchestra, 1990

Congo Folksongs No. 2 (folksongs from Congo [Kinshasa]), mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1990