Professional musicians bring handcrafted creations to life at Antwerp's Parkhuis
On Friday evening, June 19, the historic Parkhuis in Antwerp welcomed musicians, craftspeople and the public for the annual studio concert of the Internationale Lutherie School Antwerpen (ILSA). Professional musicians brought to life the instruments that students built entirely by hand this school year — the culmination of months of precision work.
A school with European reach
ILSA is considered the only luthier training program in the Benelux within secondary education and attracts students from across Europe and beyond. This school year, the school welcomed 48 students, an increase of 10 compared to last year, who specialize in violin making and guitar making, among others. The teaching staff also grew: four new instructors have joined the team since the beginning of this school year. Several former students have meanwhile built solid reputations and work for an international audience.
"ILSA confirms once again this year her strong growth and international appeal," says deputy Luk Lemmens. "With 48 students, more than last school year, and a strengthened teaching team, this program demonstrates how provincial education can be specialized, artisanal and forward-looking at the same time. Students from home and abroad find here the knowledge and guidance to continue exceptional craftsmanship."
Craft in dialogue with music
The formula of the studio concert is as simple as it is powerful: professional musicians play instruments that students built themselves. It is a rare moment when lutherie and music meet directly and where the public can judge the quality of the work with their own ears.
"Building an instrument requires time, precision and love for the material. But only when it is played does that work truly come to life," concludes Luk Lemmens. "That makes this studio concert so special. You don't just hear music, you also hear months of patience, concentration and talent. As a province, we can be proud that ILSA gives young makers such a strong foundation for an international future."
Training director Johan Hertogs opened the concert with a look back and a look ahead: "Today we see the finest reward of the school year. For students and teachers, this is the cherry on the cake after months of hard work. ILSA looks back on a strong year, and forward to a future in which craft and innovation continue to go hand in hand."
An inspiring home base
The Parkhuis, the stately building in which ILSA is housed amid greenery, contributes to the school's uniqueness. The surroundings invite concentration, creativity and growth — an appropriate setting for a program that places craftsmanship at its center. The 2026 studio concert once again confirmed the strong position that ILSA holds within the European luthier landscape.
PRACTICAL INFO
ILSA, the Internationale Lutherie School Antwerpen, offers a unique full-time training program in musical instrument making in the Benelux, which attracts students from all over the world. With personal guidance from an expert teaching team, ILSA ensures comprehensive training that prepares students for an international career in the construction and restoration of bowed and plucked instruments.