On August 19, the Royal Conservatory Antwerp (AP University of Applied Sciences) wakes up from her summer sleep for the music courses: an intensive coaching of five days, in which young people from all over the world participate. For a number of them, this is also the final preparation for the entrance exam at the end of August.
It is the teachers of the Conservatory who interrupt their vacation to guide the young talents for a week and that is compelling. Brigitte Lodewijckx, organizer of the courses, explains why: "The teachers who teach at the Royal Conservatory Antwerp have incredible expertise and international careers. If someone with musical talent gets the opportunity to take lessons with them, in an accessible way, then it is indeed worthwhile to make the journey, even if you have to come from Japan. Moreover, thanks to the financial support of Bolster (the non-profit organization that supports the Conservatory's operations) we can keep the participation fee very low, certainly compared to neighboring countries."
Which instrument lessons are offered depends on the teachers who can make themselves available and the range is therefore different each time. Fixed values are of course piano and violin, but for this edition you can also choose bassoon or organ, for example.
Music course/masterclass
On August 23, the course ends with a closing concert. There the participants show what they have worked on for a week. These can be compositions, but also techniques, certain composers or movements. The material that is studied is chosen together by participant and teacher. Because a musician who participates in an entrance exam two weeks later obviously has a different agenda than someone who is already studying at a higher level and fills in this music course as a masterclass. Because students from other conservatories are also warmly welcome. Brigitte: "If you choose to study music at a conservatory, you commit yourself for that period to a certain teacher. It can therefore be refreshing and inspiring to take a week of lessons from a teacher who may place different emphases."
Music theory
In addition to instrumental lessons, participants can also take lessons in General Musical Education, the "music theory" of old. "We see that this is sometimes no longer obvious for our Flemish young people and they need to be able to do it for their entrance exam. So that crash course is also quite popular."
Closing concert
The closing concert takes place on August 23 at 16:00 at the Conservatory of Antwerp. Everyone is welcome and admission is free.
Participating teachers
- Antoon Vanderborght, guitar
- Arash Rokni, piano
- Bart Verheyen, organ
- Bernd Van Echelpoel, tuba
- Dorine Mortelmans & Lucas Cortoos, voice
- Eliane Rodrigues, piano
- Gordon Fantini, bassoon
- Guido De Neve, violin
- Lode Leire, double bass
- Marija Pavlovic, clarinet
- Nikolaas Kende, piano
- Paulina Leschenko, piano
- Pieter Pellens, saxophone
- Roberto Giordano, piano
Participants
The participants come from Belgium, France, Portugal, China, Germany, Netherlands, Croatia, Japan, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Indonesia, Turkey, Iran, Czech Republic, Australia and Hong Kong.
Contact
Do you want to get in touch with the participants, the teachers or the organization? Then you are always welcome to contact Greet Vandenbulcke: greet.vandenbulcke@ap.be or Brigitte Lodewijckx via stages.kca@ap.be.