Directie
bachelor of master in de Kunsten

Conducting

For whom?

  • You want to pursue your passion for conducting 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 Conducting, you can become a conductor. 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.

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 programme conducting at KCB gives me the knowledge to lead an orchestra with confidence. In addition to developing a well-founded musical vision of both tonal and contemporary music, the course teaches you essential skills such as entrepreneurship and organization. You will join a team of specialists who will guide you in your development as a conductor.

Maarten Schillemans KCB directie
Maarten Schillemans
Student Conducting

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:

  • conducting 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
Saxofoonensemble (f Tom De Beuckelaer)

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 (Dutch only)

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

In the bachelor conducting you can choose between the specialization Wind & Brass Band Conducting or Orchestral Conducting.

Wind & Brass Band Conducting

Bachelor

Required subjects Ba1 (credits) BA2 (credits) BA3 (credits)
Harmony III 15    
Wind and brassband conducting I, II, III 12 12 12
Counterpoint I, II   12 18
Analysis counterpoint     6
Theory and ear training 2 4    
Rhythm and intonation 2 5    
History of Music 1, 2, 3 6 6 6
Encyclopedia and Research 3    
Organology 1,2 6 6  
Analysis of musical forms 1, 2   6  6
Score reading and reduction 1, 2   9  9
History of cutlure 3    
Optional subjects 6 9 3
Total credits 60 60 60

Orchestral Direction

Bachelor

Required subjects Ba1 (credits) BA2 (credits) BA3 (credits)
Harmony III 15    
Orchestral Direction I, II, III 12 12 12
Counterpoint I, II   12 18
Analysis counterpoint     6
Theory and ear training 2 4    
Rhythm and intonation 2 5    
History of Music 6 6 6
Encyclopedia and Research 3    
History of Culture I   3  
Organology 1,2 6 6  
Analysis of musical forms 1, 2   6 6
Score reading and reduction 1, 2   9 9
Optional subjects 6 9 3
Total credits 60 60 60

In the master conducting you can choose between the specialization Wind & Brass Band Conducting or Orchestral Conducting. .

Wind & Brass Band Conducting

Master

Required Subjects Ma1 (Credits) Ma2 (Credits)
Wind & Brass band conducting IV 21  
Master exam   30
Score study for conductors 3 6  
Orchestration I, II 9 9
Contemporary music notation 3  
Introduction to philosophy   3
Training Sessions 9 12
Artistic Research Practices 3  
Optional subjects 9 6
Total Credits 60 60

Orchestral Direction

Master

Opleidingsonderdeel Ma1 (Credits) Ma2 (Credits)
Orchestral conducting IV 21  
Master exam   30
Score study for conductors 3 6  
Orchestration I, II 9 9
Contemporary music notation 3  
Introduction to philosophy   3
Training sessions 9 12
Artistic Research Projects 3  
Optional Subjects 9 6
Total Credits 60 60

More information about your subjects.

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
Bart Bouckaert

Bart Bouckaert

Professor Contemporary Music/Orchestral Conducting

Bart Bouckaert studied at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel where he obtained the First Prizes for harmony, counterpoint, fugue, music history, as well as Higher Diplomas for chamber music and percussion. He also obtained his 'Masters in Orchestral Conducting' and a PhD degree in arts at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His principal teachers of orchestral conducting include Rob Casteels, Lukas Vis, Peter Eötvös, Mickail Kukuschkin, Arturo Tamayo and Peter Gülke.0

In 1989 he won the second prize at the Orpheus Competition in Antwerp with the OXO percussion trio. In October 2000, Bart Bouckaert became the second finalist of the 'Settimo Concorso per Giovani Direttori d' Orchestra ', a competition for young opera directors in Spoleto in Italy.

He has conducted and continues to direct orchestras and ensembles at home and abroad, including the ASKO ensemble, the Prometheus Ensemble, Het Collectief, the Odysseia Ensemble, the Orchestra of the Opera of Spoleto (Italy), the Chamber Orchestra of De Munt, the Ensembles Contemporary Music of the KCB, the National Orchestra of Lithuania, the National Orchestra of Belgium, Orquestra Sinfónica da ESMAE (Portugal), ... the works of composers including Mozart, Debussy, Bartok, Holliger, Boulez, Boesmans, Defoort, Swinnen, Van Hecke, Wissels, Neyrinck and many others. Following the opening of the renovated MuziekInstrumentenMuseum in 1999, he directed the creation of orchestrations by Franz Liszt that were before unknown.

Professor Bouckaert currently serves as professor in orchestral conducting and contemporary music at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel.

Contact Bart:

Email

Yves Segers

Yves Segers

Professor Conducting techniques & Windband conducting

Yves Segers (flutist and conductor) studied 10 years at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels where he obtained 3 Master degrees (Flute, Windband Conducting, Symphonic Orchestra Conducting) and a pedagogic diploma.

Up till now he is the chief conductor of the Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides, and this since 2008.

Before that he was the first flute in that same orchestra. He is also laureate of several competitions. In the meanwhile he created more than 30 CDs, as well as a conductor, than as a flutist. He worked together with international renowned soloists and created new compositions of Belgian and foreign composers. As was already invited to conduct the Brussels Philharmonic, The National Orchestra of Belgium, the Military Symphony Orchestra of Russia, The Choral Society of Washington. He is asked frequently as a guest conductor and as a jury member for international competitions.

Since 2013 he teaches Conducting Techniques and Windband Conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

Contact Yves:

Email

Project in the spotlights

Saxofoonensemble (f Tom De Beuckelaer)

Saxophone ensemble

Every year, the saxophone class performs in the saxophone ensemble concert. They are accompanied by the conducting students and play the arrangements of students of Writing. A project full of cross-pollination, the ideal learning environment.

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?

Alexandre KCB
Regent KCB

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

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. Info & tickets via the agenda or subscribe to our newsletter with the red button.

NEWSLETTER

f Pepa Niebla - 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

Examen orkestdirectie (f Tom De Beukelaer)

Any question?

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