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Lies Colman appointed new director Conservatoire The Hague

On 1 February 2023, Lies Colman will follow in Henk van der Meulen's footsteps as director of the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. For many years, Lies was associated with the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp as a young talent, student, teacher, member of the Music Classical Directorate, artistic director of the Educational Master of Music and researcher.  

Royal Conservatoire Antwerp

Lies Colman has a remarkable track record at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp. Besides her degrees in Law and Comparative Cultural Studies, she obtained her master's degree as a pianist in Antwerp. After an international career as a soloist and chamber musician, she started at her alma mater as a guest professor of piano. 


Since 2016, Lies has been part of the artistic management of the Classical Music and Educational Master of Music programmes. In 2021, she completed her MBA at the London Graduate School and, again at home at the Antwerp Conservatoire, started a PhD in the Arts. 
Without a doubt, the Royal Conservatoire The Hague has gained a particularly inspiring leader. 

Stefaan De Ruyck - Head of the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp - is reluctant to see her go, but wishes her all the best in her new position: "With the departure of Lies Colman to The Hague, the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp is losing a pillar in many areas. We will miss her talent, her expertise and her enthusiasm. But look, the Royal Conservatoire The Hague welcomes with Lies a new director with whom we have a warm and personal relationship. No doubt her arrival will give an additional boost to the good collaboration and understanding that already existed between the two conservatoires."

 

Director in The Hague

In recent months, the Royal Conservatoire The Hague has been searching for a successor to departing director Henk van der Meulen, who will retire in early 2023. After a thorough selection procedure, the board of the Conservatoire The Hague chose Lies Colman. Huug de Deugd, chairman of the board, was able to convey his congratulations to her earlier this week. They are particularly pleased that Lies will take over from Henk van der Meulen from 1 February.

Lies herself describes her motivation for choosing the Royal Conservatoire The Hague as follows: "The versatility and potential of Higher Art Education has continued to inspire and motivate me since the beginning of my career: making and practising art in all its power and diversity; sharing and developing passion, knowledge and experience - all in an inspiring and respectful environment. I find these qualities, this enthusiasm and ambition in all sections of the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. I therefore look forward to being part of this excellent institute, and will continue the work of departing director Henk van der Meulen with great enthusiasm."


The special bond Lies has with the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp is one for life. It will not be cut either, but filled in differently from now on: "I warmly thank the special team at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, which was a home for me for many years. I am not saying goodbye, but look forward to our renewed future collaboration."