Classical Music | Flanders Arts Institute

Today in Flanders, music thrives everywhere, with every city boasting a diversity of concert halls or other interesting locations for concerts, festivals and many small-scale initiatives.

It is no coincidence that Flanders has been cutting edge, and still is. Discover our new online platform on classical music, and new publications on Early and Contemporary Music. You can order your print copy here.

Read one of the essays on classical music in Flanders

To consider and to commemorate. From ancient tradition to a lively look at the future

The importance that Flanders attaches to music is as old as the region itself.

17 Nov 2020

Article

Perspectives on Early Music in Flanders

Early music is big in Flanders. It is now the most often performed segment in classical programming.

19 Nov 2020

Essay

À la flamande, a global perspective on Contemporary Music in Flanders

Flanders takes up a central role in the international field of new music creation with an exciting young generation of performers.

17 Nov 2020

Article

Field Guide

Through three short texts, we explore classical music culture in Flanders.

2024 Publication

Women of note: female composers in Flanders

The struggle for gender equality in classical music is not over yet, and not in Flanders either. Anyone who flicks through books about Flemish music history, whether they are old or new, will hardly find any women in them. A recent example is the book “In gesprek met componisten uit Vlaanderen” (In Conversation with Composers from Flanders) by Simon de Rijcke. The imbalance presented once again in this new book prompted us to write this text.

Read the essay here

Listen to:

Playlist - Early Music from Belgium

Early music from Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia, performed by Anima Eterna, Romina Lischka, Capilla Flamenca, Zefiro Torna of Currende, and many others. Discover our new Spotify playlist, compiled by Benoit Vanden Bemden (Les Muffatti).

A Bird-Eye's View of Music in Flanders

Explore the Flemish classical music scene both from above and up close. Discover how music is everywhere and how a flourishing musical life enriches Flemish society.

Supernova and Fingerprints

Supernova

Supernova is an incentive prize that gives young artists name recognition and performance opportunities: a calling card at the beginning of a promising career. Every year, programmers from the classical music world select two Belgian chamber music ensembles.

Fingerprints #5

With the Fingerprints CD series, ComAV, Klara and Flanders Arts Institute put composers in the spotlight nationally and internationally. Each CD provides a sample of composing Flanders. The music is distributed to international professionals and gets a place in Klara's daily programming.

Discover our music specials that make the Flemish arts landscape visible online for foreign professionals.

Let me be your guide: 21st century choir music in Flanders

What is the state of Flemish choral music in the 21st century? We look at the contemporary landscape and introduce some composers.

Who's who: Classical Music from Flanders

Go to our database for an overview of composers, organizers, festivals and musicians from Flanders and Brussels.

Let me be your guide: chamber music from Flanders & Brussels

With fourteen tracks to listen to, Rudy Tambuyser writes about the rich tradition of chamber music in Flanders.

Classical Music events by Flanders Arts Institute

Writing table Ghent – Spring 2025

12 Feb 2025 workshop De Bijloke

Writing table Brussels – Spring 2025

10 Feb 2025 workshop Wiels

Writing table Leuven – Spring 2025

29 Jan 2025 workshop STUK

Writing table Antwerp – Spring 2025

27 Jan 2025 workshop hetpaleis

Community of practice #1 – Het (boven)lokale beleid voor cultuurplekken van morgen

28 Jan 2025 Network meeting Stadsform Antwerpen

Save the date – Echo 2025: Classical music sector day

26 Mar 2025 Sector day Bozar

Creative europe cooperation project calls are open!

European Cooperation Projects support projects involving organisations in the cultural and creative sectors.

Deadline 31 Jan 2025 Call

Open call (RE)claimingthevoid: performative acts in public spaces

Deadline 14 Dec 2024 Call

Back to Basics – residency program in Finland

Thematic residency program for artists, writers, designers & creative minds.

Deadline 23 Jan 2025 Call

CERN/Copenhagen Contemporary residency 2025

Deadline 13 Dec 2024 Call

Discover more

Support centre for:

Visual arts

For a relatively small country like Belgium, the sector of contemporary visual arts is very rich, dense and full of quality. The field has mainly grown from the bottom up, thanks to the conviction and enthusiasm of a few individuals.

Performing arts

'The Flemish miracle,' is how the Flemish performing arts are sometimes referred to abroad. A high density of artistic quality with so many interesting creators in such a small area?

Music

At the heart of Europe, Flemish music culture of both creators and audiences has developed into an extraordinary, innovative melting pot of influences. Flanders Arts Institute is especially committed to data collection and research.

Classical Music in Flanders and Brussels