2023 BCS Orchestra Workshop
14-15 Oct
25-26 Nov

Dear candidates,

We are pleased to announce the 2023 BCS Orchestra Workshop!

Over two intensive weekends this fall, four principal cellists of the four major Belgian orchestras will offer individual lessons as well as open masterclasses/lectures in preparation for your upcoming orchestral auditions:

Raphael BELL - Antwerp Symphony Orchestra
Olsi LEKA - Belgian National Orchestra
Karel STEYLAERTS - Brussels Philharmonic
Sébastien WALNIER - La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra

What to expect:

  • GREAT NEWS! Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Jargar Strings, all 20 selected participants will be awarded a new set of the yet-to-be-released JARGAR EVOKE cello line!

  • Each student will receive 2 individual, 60-min lessons (one in October, one in November)

    • The repertoire/excerpts you present in your individual lessons is completely free choice.

    • Candidates’ order of instructor preference will be available on the application form and will be attributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

    • The full schedule of individual lessons (with your proposed repertoire/excerpts) will be sent internally to all participants - for the benefit of everyone, we strongly suggest that everyone allow fellow participants to observe individual lesson, but the ultimate choice to keep it open or private is your own choice.

  • Presentation of 8 masterclasses on various audition-related topics and a selection of important excerpts (some participants may be asked to play certain excerpts as the demonstrator during these excerpt masterclasses).

  • Live audition simulation followed by feedback and Q&A session with the jury (top scoring candidates will win sponsored prizes from our partners such as GEWA, Pirastro, and Jargar Strings!)

  • 3hr-session with Mindfulness specialist, Yves Cortvrint, who will help you optimize your audition preparation and stress management.

  • 1hr-meditation-session with Mindfulness specialist, Yves Cortvrint, to prepare for the live audition simulation on 26 Nov afternoon.

  • 14 October :

    • 09:30-12:30 Individual lessons / Mindfulness session

    • 12:30-13:30 Lunch

    • 13:30-14:30 Masterclass : Olsi Leka

      (Excerpts discussed: Beethoven, Brahms, Rossini, Shostakovich)

    • 14:30-15:30 Masterclass : Karel Steylaerts

      (Lecture: “Sound, style and musical intelligence: how to determine the appropriate sound, styles of playing, and discovering your ability to adapt.”)

    • 15:30-17:30 Individual lessons

  • 15 October :

    • 09:30-12:30 Individual lessons / Mindfulness session

    • 12:30-13:30 Lunch

    • 13:30-14:30 Masterclass : Sébastien Walnier

      (Excerpts discussed: Mozart and Verdi)

    • 14:30-15:30 Masterclass : Raphael Bell

      (Lecture: “The art of the bow in your orchestral audition preparations”)

    • 15:30-17:30 Individual lessons

  • 25 November :

    • 09:30-12:30 Individual lessons

    • 12:30-13:30 Lunch

    • 13:30-15:30 Individual lessons

    • 15:30-16:30 Masterclass : Karel Steylaerts

      (Excerpts discussed: Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart)

    • 16:30-17:30 Masterclass : Olsi Leka

      (Lecture: “How to better understand the jury’s expectations during auditions”)

  • 26 November :

    • 09:30-10:30 Masterclass : Sébastien Walnier

      (Excerpts discussed: Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Smetana)

    • 10:30-11:30 Masterclass : Raphael Bell

      (Excerpts discussed: Strauss, Beethoven, Mahler, Bruckner, Brahms)

    • 11:30-12:30 Meditation session with Mindfulness specialist, Yves Cortvrint

    • 12:30-13:30 Light lunch/warm ups

    • 13:30-16:00 Live audition simulation

      • 📥Download here the Live Audition repertoire requirements and excerpts PDF📥

      • All 20 participants will “audition” in front of each other in a simulated audition scenario

      • The session will conclude with an open Q&A between all the participants and jury/instructors, analyzing the before/during/after process of the simulated audition

      • PRIZES : top scoring candidates will win sponsored prizes from our partners such as GEWA, Pirastro, and Jargar Strings!

    • 16:00-18:00 Deliberations, Q&A with jury, pizza party 🍕


  • Please note that accepted participants must attend both complete weekends.


APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Application Form: 📥https://www.muvac.com/en/belgium-cello-society 📥
Application Deadline: Wednesday, 27 September 2023 (by 23:59:00)
Selection Announcement: Sunday, 1 October 2023 (by 12:00:00)
Application Fee: 25 EUR (will be credited towards tuition fee upon acceptance)

  • Belgium Cello Society

  • IBAN : BE79 3631 7580 2133

  • BIC : BBRUBEBB

Tuition Fee (if selected): 275 Euros
Pre-selection requirements: Video link(s) of Haydn D exposition and 2 contrasting excerpts (free choice)
Selection process: Total of 20 candidates will be selected based on the Pre-Selection videos. The jury will be comprised of the four workshop instructors, presided by BCS president, Mr. Han Bin Yoon.

Looking forward to seeing many of you there!



The 2023 BCS season is made possible in part by the generous support of our long-term partners: