BCS Orchestra Workshop
4-5 Oct
15-16 Nov

Dear candidates,

Back by very popular demand, we are pleased to announce the 2025 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 strings from Jargar!

  • Each student will receive an individual, 60-min lesson (1-on-1 with one of the four cello teachers)

    • 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 have the opportunity 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 Jargar, Larsen and Pirastro 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 16 Nov afternoon.

  • 4 October :

    • 08:00-09:00 Welcome + orientation

    • 09:30-10:30 Lecture: Olsi Leka
      “How to better understand the jury’s expectations during auditions”

    • 10:30-12:30 Individual lessons

    • 12:00-13:00 Lunch

    • 13:00-16:00 Individual lessons and/or Mindfulness session

    • 16:00-18:00 Masterclass: Sebastien Walnier
      Excerpts : Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Smetana

    5 October :

    • 09:00-12:00 Individual lessons / Mindfulness session

    • 12:00-13:00 Lunch

    • 13:00-14:00 Lecture: Karel Steylaerts
      “Sound, style and musical intelligence: how to determine the appropriate sound, styles of playing, and discovering your ability to adapt.”

    • 14:30-15:30 Individual lessons

    • 15:30-17:30 Masterclass: Raphael Bell

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

    • 18:00-20:00 Individual lessons

  • 15 November :

    • 09:00-11:00 Masterclass : Karel Steylaerts

      (Excerpts: Debussy, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Strauss)

    • 11:00-13:00 Individual Lessons

    • 13:00-14:00 Lunch

    • 14:00-16:00 Masterclass : Olsi Leka

      (Excerpts: Beethoven, Brahms, Rossini, Shostakovich)

    • 16:30-18:30 Individual lessons

  • 16 November :

    • 09:00-10:00 Lecture: Raphael Bell

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

    • 10:30-12:30 Masterclass : Sebastien Walnier
      (Excerpts: Mozart, Verdi)

    • 12:30-13:30 Meditation session with Mindfulness specialist, Yves Cortvrint

    • 13:30-14:00 Light lunch/warm ups

    • 14:00-18:30 Live audition simulation

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

      • All 20 participants will “audition” in a simulated (open) 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

      • Sponsored Prizes : top scoring candidates will win sponsored prizes from our partners such as Jargar, Larsen and Pirastro Strings

      • Professional Prizes : top scoring candidates may be considered for specific professional orchestral projects in a future season in Belgium.

    • 19:00-21:00 Deliberations, Q&A with jury, pizza party 🍕

  • Please note that accepted participants must attend both complete weekends - discounted partner hotel rates are available for cellists coming from out of town - please inquire at students@belgiumcellosociety.com


APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Application Form: 📥 https://forms.gle/38WfUYMeDNmMzk3j8 📥
Application Deadline: Friday, 5 September 2025 (by 23:59:00)
Selection Announcement: Friday, 12 September 2025 (by 12:00:00)
Application Fee: 45 EUR

  • Belgium Cello Society

  • IBAN : BE79 3631 7580 2133

  • BIC : BBRUBEBB

Tuition Fee (if selected): 375 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 2025 BCS season is made possible in part by the generous support of our long-term partners: