Musical Instrument Fair

Since 2013, a new space for students and musical instrument makers to meet each other has been provided at the instrument fairs, organised by the department of early music at the Conservatoire.


There exist a wide range of contemporary copies of original instruments in the early music world, and for this reason it is very useful for students to be able to meet instrument builders who are themselves eager to make their work better known and share their experience, exchange ideas and even have discussions and debates about their instruments.

The musical instrument fairs are thus a very special moment in the year where it is possilbe to discover numerous types of contemporary reproductions made by modern instrument makers. In this way students are also introduced to the kinds of discussions which are currently happening in the world of instrument building, with all its beauty and also its limitations. It is also a space where they can share their own ideas with the instrument makers, and express their wishes for possible future developments in instrument building. There is also the chance to try out different instruments to see which ones best fit different esthetics or artistic choices, but the main aim of the event is to meet each other.

These fairs happen once every year, alternating between string and wind instruments. In addition, there are conferences, debates and masterclasses organised around the topics of instrument building and organology.


Instrument fairs in the past

2019 I 2020
Historical wind instruments
Fridtjof Aurin, Philippe Bolton, Philippe Castejon, Pieter De Moor, Jan De Winne, Rosa et Reiner Egger, Ulrich Ehret, Andrea Gavagnin, Agnes Gueroult, Augustin Humeau, Stephan Katte, Wolfgang Kube, L'Olifant, Mathieu Loux, Angelica Meza, Vincenzo Onida, Alberto Ponchio, Pierre Ribo, Andreas Schöni, Claire Sécordel, Mathieu Scohy, Paul van der Linden, Micha Zilkenat...

2017 I 2018
Historical wind instruments
Fridtjof Aurin, Philippe Bolton, Cristian Bosc,  Olivier Cottet, Annelies Decock, Jan De Winne, Bodil Diesen, Rosa et Reiner Egger, Ulrich Ehret, Fraize et Marques, Agnes Gueroult, Guido Hulsens, Augustin Humeau, Stephan Katte, Guido Klemisch, Wolfgang Kube, Francesco Li Virghi, Angelica Meza, Vincent Onida, Alberto Ponchio, Pierre Ribo, Claire Sécordel, Johannes Skorupa, Paul van der Linden, Inês de Avena Braga,
Benny Aghassi…

2015 I 2016
Historical wind instruments
Walter Bassetto, Damien Bardonnet, Franz Biersack, Tony Bingham, Philippe Castejon, Olivier Cottet,  Annelies  Decock, François De Rudder, Marc Ecochard, Rainer Egger, Soren Green, Andrew Hallock, Guido Hulsens, Augustin Humeau, Wolfgang Kube, Daniel Kunst, Michael Münzwitz , Vincent Onida, Alberto Ponchio, Pierre Ribo, Bruno Salenson, Andras Schöni, Richard Seraphinoff, Michael Taglinger, Paul van der Linden, Stephaan Verdegem, Alain Weemael et Pierre Coulon, Hans-Peter Westermann, Anette Spehr, Guntram Wolf…

2013 I 2014
Historical wind instruments
Olivier Cottet, La maison Egger, Wolfgang Kube, Mathieu Loux, Pierre Ribo, Michael Taglinger, Paul van der linden, Peter van der Poel, Riccardo Von Vittorelli, Alain Weemaels, Walter Bassetto, Jan de Winne, Martin Mürner, Claude Maury, Eric Hoeprich, Jean Tubery…

2012 I 2013
Fair of lute-makers and bow-makers
History of lute-making from the renaissance to romanticism
Bares Alessandro, Bertrand Thomas, Biersack Franz, Bonnet Alexis, Boury Jean-Paul, Buys Erik, Danger François, De Saedeleer Jessica, Fraval Tanguy, Gastaldo Jérôme, Gervais Benoit, Giral Arnaud, Janssens Catherine, Laulhere Antoine, Mehler André, Poidevin Nelly, Pont Olivier, Sambot Gérard, Van Engeland Pierre, Vandermeersch Katrien…

2011 I 2012
Fair of lute-makers and bow-makers

2010 I 2011
Fair of lute-makers and bow-makers
From the medieval Vielle to the seventeenth century violin, with a look at original instruments and reproductions