Leuven, August 29 – Under a standing ovation and warm applause from a packed 30CC/Schouwburg, the cello octet Ô-Celli closed the 24th edition of Zomer van Sint-Pieter. The closing concert crowned nine weeks of musical enjoyment in which no fewer than 9,259 visitors were captivated by 35 afternoon concerts of exceptional quality.
"With an average hall occupancy of 264 music lovers per concert, we are experiencing an absolute record year," said culture alderman Bert Cornillie. "The appeal of Zomer van Sint-Pieter lies not only in the artistic diversity and high execution level, but equally in its warm and accessible character. People meet each other, enjoy music together, and then allow themselves to be tempted by city life in Leuven. The festival has meanwhile become a firm summer tradition, an ideal formula for a successful day."
Festival programmer Annick Dumalin (30CC) also confirms the unique atmosphere: "What particularly touched us was the constant interest, regardless of the repertoire. The audience embraced not only the familiar voices of Mozart, Fauré, Schubert and Bach, but also contemporary compositions and traditional music from unexpected corners: Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Chile. It proves that curiosity and openness are great. Moreover, the artistic level this year was again impressively high – both renowned musicians and young promising ensembles, including Les 4 Sens, Trio Satellite and Effel Quartet, displayed international caliber."
Outlook: summer 2026
The music summer in Leuven is far from over. Zomer van Sint-Pieter returns undiminished: from July 1 to August 28, 2026, 34 concerts are scheduled. For many loyal festival-goers, the date deserves to be marked in their calendar.
30CC further expands classical offering
For those who cannot wait until the next summer edition, 30CC has a rich classical program in store for the upcoming season. Various concerts will also take place during the day, true to the philosophy of making music accessible to a wide audience. The new season opens on September 28 with veelbeLEUVENd, a festive concert in which young Leuven musicians set the tone. And on October 5, 30CC welcomes the internationally celebrated piano duo Pavel Kolesnikov & Samson Tsoy, performing a four-hand program featuring Schubert and Stravinski – an appointment no piano lover will want to miss.