The Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles offers a comprehensive and specialised course in historical cello, within its Department of Early Music. This academic programme is structured in two complementary stages: a three-year Bachelor’s degree, followed by a two-year Master’s degree. The uniqueness of this programme lies in its comprehensive approach to the instrument, covering a broad period from the early 17th century to the mid-19th century, under the guidance of a team of cellists with diverse areas of expertise.
During the Bachelor’s programme, learning is based on a close integration of instrumental practice and applied theoretical subjects. In addition to individual and group lessons taught by Hervé Douchy, Fréderique Aronica and Marc Vanscheeuwijck, students benefit from specialised tuition such as basso continuo inspired by Neapolitan partimenti with Valentin Bajou, as well as ornamentation and improvisation led by Pierre Beaubatie. Particular attention is also paid to applied rhetoric (taught by Marc Vanscheeuwijck), enabling cellists to master the performance conventions specific to each era and context, whether they are performing as soloists, in a consort or as continuo players.
The Master’s degree then marks a stage of specialisation and artistic development. This postgraduate programme enables students to develop their skills as soloists and to create a personal project, which will be presented in public at the end of their studies. From the start of the 2026 academic year, the curriculum will be expanded to include a specialisation in Romantic cello, thereby responding to developments in historical performance practice.
By combining historical rigour with creative freedom, the cello class at the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles trains versatile artists who are able to navigate various repertoires with eloquence, using the appropriate instruments and techniques. This comprehensive course thus prepares future performers for the demands of the international stage, enabling them to act as cultural bridges between tradition and modernity.
As well as an update on the class’s teaching plans: