Baroque Cello KCB (f Reda Izo)
bachelor of master in de Kunsten

Baroque Cello

For whom?

  • You want to pursue your passion for playing the baroque cello and dream of a professional music career.
  • You want to further develop your artistic expertise with the help of internationally renowned professors.
  • You have the necessary knowledge and skills to pass the admission test.

Your future

With your degree in Baroque Cello, you can become a freelance musician or play in an orchestra/ensemble. You can also continue studying and become an artist-teacher or perhaps an artistic researcher? This study programme is the preparation for a brilliant future both on and off stage.

Orchestra / Ensemble

Making music in a group format is important for your development and therefore compulsory during your studies. As a baroque cello player, you can join the HIPP orchestra.

Seminar & Masterclasses

Renowned guest professors from Belgium and abroad are invited to pass on their knowledge to you. 

Brussels

You will have the chance to study in a metropolis with both large concert halls as well as small jazz clubs, the ideal starting point for a professional music career. Your campuses are surrounded by beautiful cathedrals, trending coffee bars and green parks to unwind in.

The KCB focusses on the broad artistic formation of each individual. The lessons are based on direct interaction between teacher and student due to the small amount of students in each class. The great number of orchestral productions each year allows us to gain experience on the stage and learn the ins and outs of the greatest pieces is in music history.

Joachim
Joachim
Student Music

After your study

Professional music career

With a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, you can choose many professional directions. Who knows, you might end up:

  • in a (inter)nationally renowned orchestra or ensemble
  • in the arts education field
  • in the social artistic field
  • at cultural institutions or governments as advisor or policy maker
HIPP concert (f Marc Lamote)

Further studies

Abbreviated bachelor's degree

After your bachelor, you can move on to a master's degree and even an additional master's degree in another instrument, through a abbreviated bachelor's degree. Postgraduates are also among the possibilities.

 

Verkorte Educatieve Master Muziek (only in Dutch)

Merk je tijdens je studie dat lesgeven iets voor jou is? Aan het KCB kan je ook een Verkorte Educatieve master Muziek volgen. Zo kan je meteen aan de slag als kunstenaar-leraar.

 

Artistic researcher

Interested in a career as an artistic researcher? KCB organises various events around research and also offers you the opportunity to do a PhD in collaboration with the Brussels Arts Platform and the VUB (university).

Your subjects

Bachelor

Required Subjects Ba1 (Credits) BA2 (Credits) BA3 (Credits)
Main instrument I, II, III 18 18 24
Chamber Music I, II, III 6 6 6
Repertoire study/sight reading 1, 2   3 3
Historical documentation 1, 2, 3 6 6 6
Orchestra/consort. 1,2,3 3 3 3
Philosophy and aesthetics of early music 1     3
Theory and ear training 1,2 4 4  
Rhythm and intonation 1,2 5 5  
Harmony and analysis 1,2 9 9  
History of Music 6    
Modules History of Music   6 6
Formal analysis 1     6
Posture and movement 3   3
History of culture     3
Total Credits 60 60 60

Master

Required Subjects MA1 (Credits) MA2 (Credits)
Main instrument IV, V (Master exam) 27 30
Chamber Music 4, 5 9 12
Repertoire study/Sight reading 3 3  
Historical documentation 4, 5 6 6
Orchestra/consort 4,5 6 6
Philosophy and aesthetics of early music 2 3  
Study of sources/edition   6
Artistic Research Practices 3 6
Optional Subjects 3  
Total Credits 60 60

More information about your subjects.

Alumni in focus

Ronan Kernoa

Ronan graduated with a master's degree in baroque cello with Alain Gervreau at our conservatoire. Since then, he has been regularly invited as a continuo player to take part in productions by various Belgian and foreign ensembles such as La Petite Bande, Bach Concentus, Les Muffatti, Les Agremens, Il Gardellino, Il Fondamento, Anima Eterna, etc., conducted by Jos Van Immerseel, Marcel Ponseele, Peter Van Heyghen, Gabriel Garrido, Barthold and Sigiswald Kuijken, among others. With these ensembles he made various recordings for Sony Classical, Vivarte, K 617, Ricercar, Accent, Avanti Classic, Challenge Records, Ramé, etc.

Ronan Kernoa - Foto les festivals de wallonie

Your professors

In order to develop your talents to the fullest you need a teacher that is capable to help and motivate you in the right way. Our teaching staff is world renowned and have years and years of experience both as performers but also as pedagogues.

Do you have any specific questions before you register for the admission tests? Would you like to meet your teacher before you take the big step? Below is a list of all teachers with contact information.

Docenten
Alain Gervreau

Alain Gervreau

Professor Baroque Cello

Alain Gervreau completed his studies at the C.N.S.M.D. in Paris in 1990 with Christophe Coin (cello) and William Christie (basso continuo). As a performer he concentrates on music from the renaissance to romanticism on historical instruments. He is teaching at the regional conservatory in Besançon and at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel,  where he is organizing since 2008 in collaboration with the French department, workshops and  colloquia led by Marc Vanscheeuwijck, professor at the University of Oregon (Eugene, USA). In November 2014 he received his doctorate in the arts (with congratulations from the jury) with a treatise on "Les ensembles de six violons au XVIe siècle and Italie du nord: re-création d'une pratique musicale" and performances with the ensemble " Les Sonadori ", which he created in 2012 together with Odile Edouard (Prof. Violin CNSMD Lyon).

Contact Alain:

Email

Projects in the spotlight

Digital New Year's Concert | HIPP

In the year 2021, KCB performed their New Year's concert digitally for the first time! In the concert << Das alte Jahr ist nun vergahn >> our HIPP department performed music by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621). A wonderful project that still resonates. 

Polyphony Jewels | HIPP Concert

In 2023, baroque violin and baroque cello students gave a Renaissance and baroque polyphony concert. This concert was based on the historical violin groups from Venice. Works by Adrian Willaert, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina & Giovanni Legrenzi, among others, were played. The concert was organised bby Alain Gervreau. 

Polyphony Jewels | HIPP Concert KCB 2023

Your campus

Campus Regentschapsstraat & Kleine Zavel

Our campuses are located in the vibrant Sablon district right in the heart of Brussels. The Conservatoire's stately main building on the Regentschapsstraat with its magnificent Concert Hall is one of Brussel's landmarks. Around the corner is our campus on Kleine Zavel where you can attend classes and study in the best conditions. Moreover, you can use our premises to study during the week and at weekends.

How can I access the campuses?

Alex onthaal KCB
Regent KBC gebouw

Renovation of the main building

After years of negotiations, we are proud to announce that the plans for the renovation of our impressive main building on Regentschapsstraat have been approved. More info on this can be found here.

Go abroad

During your studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, you will come in contact with the world: after all, you study in Brussels, Europe's most cosmopolitan capital. KCB offers guest lectures by international professionals or by a professor from a foreign partner school, international projects,... we will train you to become a professional ready for tomorrow's increasingly international world.

Do you want to spend some time abroad yourself? You can! Studying for a semester (or academic year) at a partner university or doing an internship abroad, mais oui, of course! Find out more about internationalisation.

KVDS naar het buitenland

Visit us!

Info Moments

We organise several info moments during the second semester, such as (online) info days and open class moments.

Concerts

We welcome you to our many concerts, masterclasses and research days. Also come and listen to a caleidoscoop concert by our BA1 and BA2 students or our public exams. That way you can see what you would learn as a future KCB student. Every academic year, there are numerous productions in which our students perform. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed.

INFO & TICKETS

Nieuwjaarsconcert

Enrolment & Admission Tests

To start your studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium, you must pass an artistic admission test. For information on the entrance exams - such as dates, the programmes to prepare, the enrolment conditions/fees and the module to enrol - click on the button below.

ADMISSION TESTS

HIPP concert KCB

Any question?

For more information on this programme you can contact the student administration via secretariaat.kcb@ehb.be.