Royal Conservatory of Ghent

Royal Conservatory of Ghent
Koninklijk Conservatorium Gent (Dutch)
Location
Map
Biezekapelstraat 9, Ghent

Belgium
Information
TypeMusic conservatory
Established1835
LanguageDutch, English
Websitehttps://schoolofartsgent.be/en/

The Royal Conservatory of Ghent (Dutch: Koninklijk Conservatorium Gent) is a historic conservatory and a royally chartered musical institution in Ghent, Belgium. It is now a part of the University College Ghent.

History

The Royal Conservatory of Ghent is a royally chartered musical institution, founded in 1835[1] under King Leopold I. The conservatory's founding director was Martin-Joseph Mengal. Other directors have included well-known Belgian composers such as Adolphe Samuel and Émile Mathieu. The current dean is Filip Rathé.[2]

The Royal Conservatory is one of four conservatories in Flanders and eight in Belgium. In addition to classical instrumental and vocal studies, it offers degrees in jazz, pop, music production, composition and instrument building.[3] It offers bachelor's and master's degrees (including an English master's degree in music[4]), and an Advanced Master of Contemporary Music. The school also offers post-graduate degrees in music as well as a European Postgraduate in Arts in Sound.

The school traditionally attaches great importance to the practice of chamber music. Since 2006, the school has mounted an annual opera production. It also has two main performance venues, the Miry Concert Hall and Club Telex.

In 1995, the Royal Conservatory was one of sixteen Belgian institutions merged into the University College Ghent. It provides training for about 480 students, with master's programs for drama and music. Since 2011, together with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK), it forms part of the School of Arts of the University College Ghent.

Notable alumni

Notable students and faculty at the conservatory have included François-Auguste Gevaert, who studied directly under Mengal in 1841, Paul-Henri-Joseph Lebrun, who studied here and became a professor, and Edouard Potjes, who served as professor of piano for 22 years. Other famous alumni include:

Directors

Assistant Directors

Supervisors

  • Victor Van den Hecke de Lembeke 1855–1870
  • Gustave Louis Marie De Burbure De Wesembeek 1870–1871

Deans of the School of Arts, University College Ghent

  • Wim de Temmerman 2011–2019
  • Lars Kwakkenbos 2019–2020
  • Filip Rathé 2021–present

References

  1. ^ Bergmans, Charles (1901). Le conservatoire royal de musique de Gand. Ghent: G. Beyer. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Filip Rathé nieuwe decaan KASK & Conservatorium". KASK Conservatorium. KASK Conservatorium. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Education". KASK & Conservatorium. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  4. ^ "English Master". KASK & Conservatorium.