Offshoot of ideas about musical training initiated by Eugène Ysaÿe 20 years earlier, the Music Chapel was inaugurated on 12 July 1939 by Queen Elisabeth. After the Second World War, the Music Chapel resumed its role as an educational institution as of 1956. Up to 2004, it welcomed a dozen of young musicians and composers in residence, each supervised by a professor of their choice, for three-year cycles. A few generations of elite musicians were to stay in the College, occupying an eminent place on stage or in higher education. Legendary for its elite intake and output, the Music Chapel has consistently produced exceptionally world-class musicians and counts Plamena Mangova, Yossif Ivanov, Esther Yoo, Lorenzo Gatto, Vineta Sareika, Hendrickje Van Kerckhove, Emmanuel Krivine, among its alumni.
Functioning
In 2004, its purpose was completely transformed and is nowadays based on two aspects:
High-level training in six disciplines with the assistance of Masters in residence. There will be six names in classical music working with the Chapel and its young musicians:
musical life and a flagship institution through its connections with orchestras, festivals and broadcasters, locally and abroad. Every year, the Chapel takes more than 50 talented young people in residence, Belgian and foreign. The Chapel's budget is currently €2.5 million per annum. 80% of it is financed by the private sector and 20% by public subsidies. The Music Chapel is supported by many cultural patrons and sponsors : Belgacom, ING and Ginion Group are its main sponsors.
Architecture
Built by Yvan Renchon's plans, the Music Chapel was inaugurated in July 11, 1939. The Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel building is a specimen of architecture in transition between Art Deco and modernism. The public authorities listed the original building and its park in 1994. After renovation of the interior in 2004 and the structures of the Chapel in 2008-2009, the Music Chapel is currently drawing up a large-scale infrastructure development project. This New Building project is based on:
Expanding residential accommodation for performers, which has been the project's aim since 1939.
Expanding the teaching areas.
Creating a new broadcasting and recording studio able to accommodate up to 200 performers.
The aim of this project is to double the Chapel's reception capacity. . The initial budgetary estimate for this project is approx. €5 to 6 million excluding tax. Up till now, €2 million has been funded. The project should be finished by summer 2014.
