Programme

The International Summer Academy Alden Biesen is a leading educational platform that aims at facilitating  intercultural exchange and personal development. In the inspiring venue of the castle domain of the Land Commandery Alden Biesen we bring talented musicians together to experience both the rich history and cultural diversity of this exceptional location.

Musical excellence is at the core of the programme of the Summer Academy Alden Biesen. Throughout the courses, workshops and masterclasses, participants gain meaningful insights into music, refine their singing and conducting skills, and nurture a lasting passion for performance.

Our Coaches

The coaches that will guide the participants through the programme are all internationally recognized specialists in their field of expertise.

Bart Naessens has many areas of expertise. He obtained master degrees on organ, harpsichord, and as conductor, and is frequently performing in all of these disciplines, in venues all over the world. Time and again he succeeds in inspiring musicians around him with his knowledge and skill, and captivating audiences with his moving interpretations of the repertoire at hand.

Bart will be the artistic director of the Summer Academy Alden Biesen.

Alexandros Kavvadas, born in Greece, is active as a conductor, or on the piano or organ. He obtained a master’s degree in choir conducting and studied conducting, piano, organ and basso continuo. He worked together with leading musicians and ensembles in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Greece. As a conductor he won the first prize at the National Orchestra Conducting Competition in Athens. His profound interest in historically informed performance practice of baroque music makes him the ideal person to be an assistant-conductor and vocal coach during the Summer Academy Alden Biesen.

Emilie De Voght obtained master’s degrees as a singer and choir conductor, and has achieved remarkable success in both disciplines. As a singer she is part of renowned professional ensembles, as a conductor she is leading several choirs and orchestras, and was seleccted for an international training course in the United States. She is also frequently active as vocal coach, and will make her skills in that domain available to the participants of the Summer Academy Alden Biesen.

Choir programme Alden Biesen

The choir programme is intended for experienced choir singers who wish to further explore baroque music, early music and some more recent works.

The repertoire of the choir programme 2026 consists of:

  • G. Fauré: Requiem, Cantique de Jean Racine
  • J. Rutter: A Clare Benediction

These works are complemented by a number of compositions for male choir or female choir:

  • R. Schumann: Romanzen op. 69 (female choir)
  • F. Mendelssohn: Nachtgesang (male choir)
  • F. Schubert: Gesang der Geister über den Wassern (male choir)
  • J. Sibelius: Brusande rusar en våg (male choir)

NEW – Chamber Choir programme Alden Biesen

In 2026 we are for the first time adding a chamber choir programme to the Summer Academy Alden Biesen. This track is intended for advanced ensemble singers, who wish to further improve their ensemble singing skills on a high artistic level.

The chamber choir will consist of a maximum of 20 singers. Every voice in this group being important to the overall sound, every individual is expected to be able to carry their part with a soloist-like confidence and skill. A solid vocal technique, strong sight reading skills and previous experience in ensemble singing are essential.

The 2026 repertoire for the chamber choir consist of:

  • J.S. Bach: Jesu, meine Freude
  • J.L. Bach: Das ist meine Freude

Chamber choir members will also perform the choir repertoire mentioned above during rehearsals and at the presentation concert.

If you are interested in joining the chamber choir as an ensemble singer, you are invited send your application, including a short motivation, musical CV and (if possible) a recent audio or video recording, to office@bachacademie-aldenbiesen.be. Based on this material the coaches will decide who will be admitted to the chamber choir programme. These selected singers will be notified personally.

NEW – Young Conductors programme

In addition to the choir programme, Summer Academy Alden Biesen is offering, starting from 2026, a programme for a number of young conductors who wish to deepen their experience with choir and ensemble conducting. This programme is aimed at conductors with some experience, who are prepared to intensively work on rehearsal technique, gesture, score preparation and artistic communication.

Participants to this programme will study the entire Requiem by G. Fauré and conduct one movement at the presentation concert concluding the programme. Every participant will also conduct one movement of Jesu, meine Freude by J.S. Bach with the chamber choir.

The participating conductors will attend choir and chamber choir rehearsals during the week, and will additionally receive

  • an introductory workshop with Bart Naessens
  • two conducting masterclasses, with Jan Vuye and Joris Derder
  • daily guidance by the coaches, under supervision of Bart Naessens

As an alternative to this active participation, interested conductors can choose to follow the masterclasses and rehearsals as an observant.

If you’re interested to participate in the Young Conductors programme, you are invited to send your application, including a short motivation, a musical CV and (if possible) a recent video recording, to office@bachacademie-aldenbiesen.be. Based on this material, the coaches will decide who will attend the Young Conductors programme. These selected conductors will be notified personally.

Detailed Schedule

This schedule is merely indicative, and may be subject to change at any time.

Monday, August 10

  • Morning:
    • Welcome
    • Tutti rehearsal
  • Afternoon :
    • Tutti rehearsal and individual vocal coaching

Tuesday, August 11

  • Morning:
    • Tutti rehearsal with student conductors, collective vocal coaching
  • Afternoon:
    • Individual vocal coaching (ladies)
    • Rehearsal male choir
    • Start chamber choir
  • Evening
    • Tutti rehearsal

Wednesday, August 12

  • Morning:
    • Separate rehearsals male and female choir
    • Workshop student conductors
  • Afternoon:
    • Masterclass student conductors
    • Individual vocal coaching (men)
    • Chamber choir rehearsal

Thursday, August 13

  • Morning:
    • Tutti rehearsal, including student conductors
  • Afternoon:
    • Individual vocal coaching
    • Chamber choir
    • Male and female choirs, with student conductors
  • Evening:
    • Tutti rehearsal

Friday, August 14

  • Morning:
    • Tutti rehearsal
    • Masterclass student conductors
  • Afternoon:
    • Chamber choir
    • Separate rehearsal for male and female choirs
    • Tutti “dress” rehearsal
  • Evening:
    • Final get-together to conclude the course

Saturday, August 15

  • Morning:
    • Raccord
    • Presentation Concert, concluding the Summer Academy Alden Biesen