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Saxofoon
bachelor of master in de Kunsten

Saxophone

Contact

For whom?

  • You want to pursue your passion for saxophone 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 Saxophone, 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 saxophone player, you can join wind orchestra, symphony orchestra or the contemporary ensemble for example.

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. 
 

Foto van 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
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

Bachelor
Required subjects Ba1 (CR) BA2 (CR) BA3 (CR)
Main instrument I, II, III 24 24 27
Chamber music 1, 2   6 6
Orchestra 1, 2, 3  6 6 6
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 1, 2, 3 6 6 6
Formal analysis 1     6
Encyclopedia and research 3    
Posture and movement 3    
History of culture     3
Optional subjects     6
Total  60 60 60

Master
Required subjects Ma1 (CR) Ma2 (CR)
Main instrument IV 27  
Master exam   30
Chamber music 3, 4 6 12
Orchestra 4, 5 6 6
Formal analysis 2 6  
Introduction to philosophy 3  
Artistic Research Practices 3  
Optional subjects 9 12
Total  60 60

More information about your subjects.

Alumni in focus

Bart Van Beneden

Bart Van Beneden studeerde in 2014 af aan het KCB bij zijn docent Norbert Nozzy en is sindsdien lid van verschillende ensembles en treed op in België en ver daarbuiten.

Bart won in 2018 de supernova met zijn ensemble Scarbo.

Bart Van Beneden

Nele Tiebout

Nele Tibaut

Nele Tiebout

Nele Tiebout studeerde aan het KCB en heeft sindsdien enkele prestigieuze prijzen gewonnen waaronder:  de 2e prijs in de National Adolphe Sax Competition en de 1e prijs in de Dexia Classics.

Nele won ook samen met Bart Van Beneden de Supernova met hun Scarbo Saxophone Quartet.

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.

Begeleiding
Simon Diricq

Simon Diricq

Professor Saxophone

Simon Diricq is the first belgian saxophonist graduated of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique of Paris. In 2010, he won the First Grand Prix Adolphe Sax at the famous International Saxophone Competition in Dinant.  He also impressed at several other competitions: First Prize Dexia (Brussels 2002), First Prize in Nantes (2004), Second Prize in Tarragona (2004), at the Rotary International Competition (Lille 2005), Premier Prix d’Honneur Ufam (Paris 2006), Laureate at the Pacem in Terris Competition (Bayreuth 2007), First Prize at the International Benidorm Competition (2010)…

As a soloist, he played with the Saõ Paulo Symphonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Royal Philharmonique de Liège, the Belgian Military Air Force Band, the Royal Band of the Guides, the Brussels Orchestral Ensemble, the Chapelle Musicale de Tournai, the Wallonia Chamber Orchestra, Het Kamerorkest, the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra…

He is a member of the Ensemble Squillante, an original ensemble of nine saxophonists who just made three recordings, and plays also in duet with the pianist Flavien Casaccio or with Charles Michiels (Duo Y, saxophone and clarinet)

Simon Diricq, who was made honorary citizen of Dinant, birthplace of Adolphe Sax, works as a saxophone teacher at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels.

Contact Simon:

Email

Projects in the spotlight

Harmonieorkest

Libertadores | Wind Orchestra

Professor and conductor of the Koninklijke Muziekkapel van de Gidsen, Yves Segers, conducts the wind orchestra every year, the project where the brass players can really have the spotlight. In the spring of 2023, a work by Philippe Lamouris, combined with new work from the oeuvre for wind band and oeuvre from symphony orchestra, by daring, among other things, a new transcription of Sergei Prokofieff's L'amour des Trois Oranges. Finally, they ended with a climax, with music and movement coming together in the rousing, challenging and groundbreaking Libertadores by Óscar Navarro.

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.

Saxofoonensemble 2023 (f Tom De Beuckelaer)

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 KVDS
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

Kom eens langs - 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

Saxofoonensemble (f Tom De Beuckelaer)

Any question?

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