The Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles is a higher education arts school in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 1832, offering bachelor's and master's degrees in music and theater. It is one of Belgium's oldest conservatories, known for its early music department and its multilingual, international student body. The conservatory enrolls just over 750 students from five continents, taught by approximately 240 faculty members.
Among its many distinguished alumni is Dutch violinist André Rieu, who studied at the conservatory from 1974 to 1977 under André Gertler and graduated with the Premier Prix. Rieu later founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra and became one of the most commercially successful classical musicians in the world. Here he performs "The Beautiful Blue Danube" with his orchestra, from his official YouTube channel with over 13.8 million views:
How the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles Works
The conservatory follows the European Bologna system with two main cycles:
- Bachelor (1st cycle): 3 years, 180 ECTS credits. Requires a secondary school diploma (or equivalent) and passing the entrance exam.
- Master (2nd cycle): 2 years, 120 ECTS credits for music. Requires a bachelor's degree in the relevant discipline.
- Specialized Master: 1 year, focusing on a specific repertoire or instrument.
- Master in Teaching (section 5): 1 year, for pedagogical training.
- Advanced Master: 1 year, preparatory to research and doctoral studies in arts.
Admission requires passing an entrance exam (epreuve d'admission). The next session runs between March 23 and April 3, 2026, with a second session in August/September 2026. Some disciplines (composition, brass, strings, harp, harpsichord, fortepiano) allow remote auditions via video conference.
There is no age limit and no cap on the number of times you can apply. The school accepts international students without quota restrictions. Teaching is in French, and while French proficiency is not required for admission, you need solid French skills to succeed in the program.
Programs Offered
The music department is organized into four specific departments plus a transversal pedagogy department:
- Classical and Contemporary Music: Orchestral instruments, piano, voice, chamber music
- Early Music: Historical instruments, baroque performance practice (a department the school is particularly known for)
- Jazz: Performance, improvisation, rhythm studies
- Music Education: Pedagogical training for future teachers
- Composition: Classical writing and contemporary composition
- Conducting: Orchestral and choral
- Theater and Arts of Speech: Separate department for dramatic arts
Real-World Example
A Belgian student applying for the bachelor's program in classical violin in 2026 would register online for the spring entrance exam session (March 23 to April 3, 2026). They perform a program of works specified in the curriculum description for violin. If they pass, they can enroll for the 2026-2027 academic year.
An international student from outside the EU must also request a diploma equivalence from the Federation Wallonia-Brussels Equivalences Service before enrollment. This process costs money and takes time, so the school recommends starting it before the entrance exam.
Tuition fees for Belgian public arts schools are regulated and significantly lower than private institutions. Students from the EU pay the same rates as Belgian students. This makes the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles an attractive option for international students seeking quality training at a reasonable cost.
Notable Alumni
The conservatory has trained prominent musicians and composers throughout its history. The school's Wikipedia page lists 196 notable alumni. Here are some of the most significant:
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Adolphe Sax (1814 to 1894) - Belgian instrument inventor who studied at the Brussels Conservatory. He invented the saxophone in the early 1840s and patented it in 1846. He also invented the saxotromba, saxhorn, and saxtuba, and redesigned the bass clarinet. The saxophone is now one of the most widely played instruments in the world, central to jazz, classical, and military band repertoire.
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Arthur Grumiaux (1921 to 1986) - Belgian violinist, one of the most respected violinists of the 20th century. He studied at the Brussels Conservatory and later taught there. He recorded extensively for Philips, including the complete Bach Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin and the Mozart violin concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis. Here is his recording of Bach's Partita No. 2 in D minor, which has accumulated over 1.3 million views on YouTube:
- José van Dam (1940 to 2024) - Belgian bass-baritone, one of the most acclaimed opera singers of the late 20th century. He studied at the Brussels Conservatory and performed at major opera houses worldwide, including the Paris Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Salzburg Festival. He created the title role in the world premiere of Olivier Messiaen's Saint François d'Assise at the Paris Opera. Here he performs "Voici des roses" from Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust at La Monnaie in Brussels in 2002, conducted by Antonio Pappano:
- Lara Fabian (born 1970) - Belgian-Canadian singer and songwriter who has sold over 20 million records worldwide. She enrolled at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels at age eight and studied singing, piano, and composition there for 10 years. She represented Belgium in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, placing fourth. Here is the official video for "Growing Wings" from her 2017 album Camouflage, from her official YouTube channel:
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André Rieu (born 1949) - Dutch violinist and conductor. Studied at the Brussels Conservatory from 1974 to 1977 under André Gertler, graduating with the Premier Prix. He founded the Johann Strauss Orchestra in 1987 and became one of the highest-grossing touring musicians in the world, with annual revenues exceeding $50 million. (See his performance video at the top of this page.)
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Sigiswald Kuijken (born 1944) - Belgian violinist and viola da gamba player, a pioneer of the early music movement. He studied at the Brussels Conservatory and later founded the ensemble La Petite Bande. He is credited with reviving the viola da spalla and historical performance practices.
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Isaac Albéniz (1860 to 1909) - Spanish pianist and composer, one of the foremost composers of the post-romantic era. He studied at the Brussels Conservatory as a teenager, graduating with a Premier Prix in piano alongside Arthur De Greef.
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Jean Absil (1893 to 1974) - Belgian composer, organist, and professor at the conservatory. His compositions include symphonies, concertos, and chamber music.
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François-Joseph Fétis (1784 to 1871) - First director of the conservatory (1833 to 1871), musicologist, and critic. He established the conservatory's early reputation as a major European musical institution.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
If you are considering studying music in Europe and want an affordable, historically rich institution, the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles is worth exploring. The absence of age limits means you can apply at any stage of your career. The early music department is one of the strongest in Europe, making it an excellent choice if you specialize in baroque or historical performance practice.
For non-EU applicants, the diploma equivalence process can take several months. Start that paperwork early. Also, budget for relocation costs to Brussels, which is more affordable than Paris or London but still a major European capital.
Compare this school with others in our music schools directory, or look for funding opportunities in our music scholarships directory. If you are weighing formal education against self-directed learning, read our guide on how to learn music theory without formal training.
Related Resources
- Music Schools Directory - Browse music schools worldwide
- Music Scholarships Directory - Find funding for your studies
- How to Learn Music Theory Without Formal Training
- Building a Music Career While Working a Full-Time Job
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