Exclusive open day for Kunsthumaniora Brussel at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel

To officially open this day, Lulu Aertgeerts, the new director of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, gave a speech in which she highlighted the prestige and the international reputation of KCB. She also emphasised how important it is for our society that a new generation of musicians is continuously nurtured. 

The student administration and the head of music programme took then the floor to provide, respectively, more information about the entrance examinations and the Music programme as a whole. 

Of course, music could not be missing at the conservatoire! Alumni of KhB, who are now studying at KCB, concluded this introduction with a beautiful musical performance. Afterwards, the KhB pupils received valuable first-hand information during a Q&A with the former KhB students. 

Clara Orellana (violin) & Amin Merri (piano)

Vita Vervloet (Jazz violin), Jef De Dobbeleer (Jazz piano) & Ward Lauwaerts (Jazz drums)

After a guided tour of the campus, the KhB pupils could attend multiple classes, adapted to their studies and interests. Pupils of the Classic Music department participated in Clarinet with Benjamin Dieltjens, Percussions with Gert François, Violin with Antal Szalai, Hobo with Karel Schoofs, Baroque Cello with Alain Gervreau and many more at the Klaine Zavel Campus. 

Concerning the Jazz students, they followed, among others, the following lessons at the Kaai Campus: Jazz Ensemble with Piergiorgio Pirro, Jazz Vocals with David Linx, Jazz Piano with Nathalie Loriers, Jazz Electric Guitar with Fabien Degryse. The Mantra Sessions – Balkan Music workshop by Nicolaas Hauzeur was also on the programme. 

In addition, the pupils took part in other activities, such as a research session in which PhD students presented their doctoral research. PhD student Benjamin Glorieux (cello) spoke about the historical cellist Servais, while PhD student Eleonora Perretta (guitar) spoke about the Choro-tradition role models, and the place of women in the canon. Research plays an important role in higher music education at KCB. It was therefore a great added value for the pupils of KhB to already get an initial insight into this.

During lunch, the pupils of KhB got the opportunity to ask questions in a personal conversation with the student administration and the head of the music programme. In the afternoon, a few pupils performed for professors of KCB. It was a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills and talents to the professors they look up to and with whom they may soon take admission tests. 

As Lulu Aertgeerts said in her speech, the world needs young musicians. It is therefore important to encourage such pupils to continue inspiring one another and to keep pursuing their artistic career choices. 

KCB is always delighted to open its doors to young, inspired and promising musicians. We hope to meet them in the corridors of our conservatoire in the coming years. 

We are already looking forward to organising the fifth edition of this exclusive open day next year!