Composition

Many graduates of the Composition programme in The Hague have achieved worldwide fame, with their work being performed by prestigious ensembles at the leading opera houses, music festivals and venues all around the world. The faculty, once the birthplace of the revolutionary ‘Hague School’, concentrates on encouraging the creativity and versatility of the students, the conduct of research and helping students to discover their own identity as a composer.

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Guest Composers

The department often invites prominent composers for guest lectures, lessons, workshops and portrait concerts. In recent years these have included Oscar Bettison, Jürg Frey, Michael Pisaro-Liu and Hans Abrahamsen. Historic large scale residencies included John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, György Kurtág, György Ligeti and Olivier Messiaen, among others.

Louis Andriessen Studio

Since september 2024 the school houses the archives of former teacher Louis Andriessen in a workspace available to students, including his scores and the grand piano and desk at which these scores were written.

Alumni

These talented composers who are now active both nationally and internationally began their careers at the Royal Conservatoire's composition department. In recent years these have included: Michel van der Aa, Cassandra Miller, Yannis Kyriakides, Missy Mazzoli, Richard Ayres, Calliope Tsoupaki, Kate Moore, Genevieve Murphy, Damien Ricketson, Mikołaj Laskowski en Maya Verlaak.

Programmes

Search our bachelor programme and master programme.