Our alumni, students and teachers look back on a very busy festival summer. Read more ...
‘Is there music in AI? Let alone jazz?’ — an enlightening conversation with Live Electronics teacher Dago Sondervan in *De Standaard* about where AI can and cannot play a part in music.
Fantastic news from Helsingborg (Sweden): the 70-strong Waelrant Youth Choir, conducted by choir conducting teacher Marleen De Boo, has won not one but two world titles at the World Choir Games — in the youth choir category (15–25 years) and in the sacred choral music with accompaniment category.
Piccolo Master’s students from Peter Verhoyen’s class – Oihana Gimenez Infante and Gitte Bongaers – won first and second prize at the National Flute Association Piccolo Artist Competition in Portland (USA). A special mention goes to Pieter-Jan Verhoyen for his excellent piano accompaniment, and to Anke Lauwers and Karin De Fleyt for their team teaching.
Former bassoon student Jappe Dendievel (22) came second in the international bassoon competition in Germany.
Oleksandra Makarova, a Master’s alumna in Marimba from Dr Ludwig Albert’s class, won third prize in the marimba solo category at the Universal Marimba Competition Belgium 2026, as well as the Keiko Abe Prize for the best performance of Abe’s work.
Francesco Miranda, a Master’s alumnus in Marimba from the same class, also reached the last eight in the marimba solo category at this competition.
Percussion alumnus Brecht Schepers is set to join the Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Air Force.
Percussion alumnus Victor Reeskens was accepted at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen.
Composition alum Noah Senden was the very first festival composer of Musica Divina: SPECTRA, ORLANDOviols and the Flemish Radio Choir performed his work. In de toonbank, he talks about his music for Casco Phil's Wapper! and his years studying with us.
Following a sold-out final performance in June, the students on the Bachelor Dance programme were asked to restage their production. *A Smile without a Cat* by choreographer Steven Michel will open NONA’s season on 19 September.
Elsa Chantre and Noémie Hà, alumni of the Bachelor Dance programme, will be performing at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen on 16 September for the premiere of ‘De Materie’.
At Theater Aan Zee, Marta García Hernández appeared in Zoë Demoustier’s ‘Hear The Silence’, whilst Manel Llopes performed alongside Ayelen Parolin and Compagnie Ruda.
Three Bachelor Dance alumni have set off to explore the world: Tos Schoonjans has started work in Denmark, whilst Lily White and Mirte ‘s Jongers have joined Tanz Kassel.
Bachelor Dance alumna Dorottya Gombos is joining forces with Fleur Khani: their joint performance will premiere on 19 September at DESINGEL.
Second-year Bachelor’s students Aurelien and Elian are dancing in Living Apartment Together.
Dance alumnus Samuel Baidoo won the Ontwerpersprijs 2026 for the performance Plum Road Tea Dream / The Performance. The prize was presented at the Gala van het Nederlands Theater.
IWANTADIVORCE, created by alumni Indra Hauben & Lennert Van Nuffel (June 2026) as part of their master project, was restaged at TIS on the AMS roof terrace in August.
Drama alumni Julia Groenland & Quinten Ornelis were given the opportunity to curate Colosseum Nights #2 at the Blikfabriek in August. Theatre, dance and music alternated in a varied programme featuring various alumni and teachers from the Drama programme.
Media, writing and performance art alumni Louise Anthonissen and David Wheel won not one but two prizes at the NTR Podcast Awards on 13 September for their work ‘If I die tomorrow’: both the first prize and the audience award.
Jisse Böhne, a Master’s student in Media, Writing & Performance Art, won second prize with her audio story ‘In de bomen’. A special word of thanks goes to coaches Siona Houthuys (alumna) and Katharina Smets (teacher).
Alumna and drama students Luna, Winter, Toulouse and Jules De Cock collaborated to create their own performance, ‘Four Sisters’, about growing up in their family. The performance was staged in Ostend and at the Zomer van Antwerpen festival, and is now touring venues across Flanders.
Anke Van Meer, a Media, Writing & Performance Art alumna, has produced a new podcast about women in theatre. Teacher Edith Cassiers contributed to the project. ‘Mainstream’ is now available to listen to everywhere.
Lennert De Vroey and David Weel, Media, writing and performance art alumni, were selected as authors for Vlaams-Nederlands Huis deBuren’s Kanaalverhalen residency, exploring stories from the Ghent-Terneuzen canal area.
Alumni Veroline Vanderbeek (drama) and Abel Baeck (composition) created Mayken, a music theatre piece about the forgotten artist Mayken Verhulst. It premieres on 30 October at CC Brasschaat; the museum version follows on 19 November at KMSKA.
