- Born in Amsterdam, Devreese received his first musical training from his father, the composer-conductor Godfried Devreese (1893-1972).
- He studied composition with Marcel Poot and conducting with René Defossez in Brussels, composition with Ildebrando Pizzetti at the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Rome from 1952 to 1955and conducting with Hans Swarowsky at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna in 1955-56.
- Devreese composed music for piano, chamber music, orchestra, choir, opera and ballet, but became widely known initially for his film scores.
- He was a Belgian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber and piano works that have been performed throughout the world and he was also active as a conductor.
- He served as conductor of the BRT Philharmonic Orchestra and guest-conducted orchestras throughout the world.
- Devreese received the following prizes: Prijs Oostende Piano Competition (1949, for Concerto No. 1) Prix Italia (1964, for Willem van Saefthingen, together with Mark Liebrecht) Joseph Plateau Award (1990, for Het Sacrament) Georges Delerue Award (1994, for La partie d'échecs).
- Devreese is known for his film scores, including Benvenuta by André Delvaux and The Cruel Embrace by Marion Hänsel.
- For his recordings for Marco Polo's series Anthology of Flemish Music, he was nominated for the Cultural Ambassador of Flanders in 1996-97.
- He wrote the imposed work for the Koningin Elisabeth / Reine Elisabeth music competition in Brussels (1983, Concerto No. 4) and the Adolphe Sax competition in Dinant (1998, Ostinati).
- He was knighted by Albert II of Belgium in 1996. His motto is Tenuto.
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