In January, the eighth edition of the Ton Koopman Academy took place. This edition was particularly special as it coincided with the anniversary year of the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. In this context, Ton Koopman was the first to be awarded the Maestro Honoris Causa title, created especially for this jubilee by the Royal Conservatoire. The presentation took place on 21 January and marks his exceptional significance for the conservatoire, the Early Music Department, and international musical practice.
During the Academy, students from the Early Music Department worked intensively for a week with Ton Koopman, one of the founders and leading figures of the international early music movement. For students, the Academy offers a unique opportunity tolearn from a musician who brings together artistic excellence, research and practice in a natural and convincing way. The project shows how this tradition continues to develop through dialogue with new generations.
Through individual and group lessons, rehearsals and shared reflection moments, students work with Koopman on repertoire, style and interpretation. They experience at close range how he shapes musical ideas, develops ensembles and uses research as a driving force for interpretation. This direct transfer of knowledge and experience lies at the heart of the Academy and makes the programme an intensive and inspiring learning environment.
An important element is its international character. The Ton Koopman Academy is set up as a Blended Intensive Programme and brings together students and teachers from several European conservatoires. Students from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya and the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts work alongside students from the Royal Conservatoire for a week. In this international setting, participants learn to adaptquickly, communicate clearly and take shared responsibility for the musical result. This experience is of great value for their future professional practice and often leads to lasting international networks.
With the Ton Koopman Academy, the Royal Conservatoire The Hague highlights three pillars: artistic excellence, artistic research and entrepreneurship. Ton Koopman embodies these values like no other. His long-standing involvement with theconservatoire, his influence on the artistic profile of the Early Music Department and the awarding of the Maestro title make this edition a meaningful moment within the anniversary year. At the same time, the Academy demonstrates how tradition andinnovation continue to reinforce one another, both within education and in the wider field of early music.