A fantastic start to the academic year 2025-2026 at KCB

Every year we say it, but it is true once again: what a fantastic start of the academic year we had! From Monday the 15th to Monday the 22nd of September, we organised our welcome week for new students at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (KCB, the Flemish conservatoire located in Brussels). It was a week full of exciting discoveries, new encounters, and inspiring activities. 

This introduction week is especially valuable for our students, as the majority of them come from abroad. With more than 60 nationalities represented, from Australia to Brazil, it offers a chance to feel at home in Brussels and to build connections that will enrich their studies and artistic journey. Through cosy breakfasts, lively guided tours, informative sessions, an official opening ceremony with inspiring speeches, Belgian fries, and a big student party, our new community members could discover the conservatoire, the city, and each other in a welcoming and festive way.

One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to get to know each other is by sharing a meal. Each department organised its own breakfast/lunch so that new students could meet their fellow classmates in a relaxed setting. 

KCB offers programmes in Music (with departments Classical, Historical Performance Practice, and Jazz), in Musical Theatre, and in Educational Programmes in the Arts. Every new student began the week with a warm welcome within their own study programme.

At the end of the week, when everyone was beginning to feel at home, we celebrated our official opening ceremony. This edition was truly unforgettable. Due to the renovations of our Concert Hall in the Regentschapsstraat, we had the honour of hosting the event in the beautiful Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Zavel Church. 

The ceremony was filled with a sense of gratitude and transition. One of the most moving moments was the farewell of Jan D’haene, whose story is inseparably bound with KCB. From student to assistant, from professor to director, he carried the conservatoire through many decades with remarkable dedication. Few people embody the spirit of KCB as completely as he does. His words, both heartfelt and modest, resonated deeply with everyone present. In that same spirit, he passed the torch with grace to our new director, Lulu Aertgeerts, who will officially begin on the 1st of October 2025.
 

The heads of programmes gave inspiring and refreshing speeches: Mira Delbaen for Musical Theatre, Ruth Rondas for Educational Programmes in the Arts, and Peter Swinnen for Music. 

As one would expect from a conservatoire, music was at the heart of the celebration. Our talented students filled the ceremony with emotion and joy through their wonderful performances, and the heavenly acoustics of the church made the experience even more special.

This introduction week would not have been possible without the dedication, passion, and hard work of our administration and technical staff. As Jan D’haene mentioned warmly in his speech: it takes true teamwork to make this happen. A heartfelt thank you to all colleagues who made this week possible, and to our professors and students for being part of our warm and talented community. 

We now look forward to the artistic journey ahead with great enthusiasm. Together, let us shape a year full of music, creativity, and inspiration.