Artist Diploma

What we offer

Three artistic seasons to build a tailored project

The Artist Diploma programme at the Music Chapel is an artist residency that usually takes place over three years. This long-term approach gives each artist the time to progress, experiment, perform and gradually develop their artistic and professional project.

Lessons, collaborative practice, coaching, workshops, masterclasses and performance opportunities come together throughout the residency, allowing each artist to develop their artistic identity, gain professional experience and acquire the tools they need to build their own path.

The residency at the Music Chapel is designed to fit into each artist’s individual journey. It can be pursued alongside other training programmes, studies or career development projects, in Belgium or abroad. This flexibility allows artists to pursue further training, develop collaborations or take up professional opportunities, while continuing to benefit from the support, resources and experiences offered by the Music Chapel.

At the end of this journey, artists who meet the required conditions may be invited to present their project for the Artist Diploma,which recognizes the completion of their journey at the Music Chapel. Artists selected by the Masters in residence and the Artistic Director then develop the programme for a final recital built around their own artistic project. The programme is chosen by the artist and may include chamber music, guest artists, staging or other artistic elements.

The Artist Diploma at a glance

Artists in residence benefit on average from two private masterclass sessions per month for their instrument or voice, with their Master in residence, Guest Masters and, depending on their needs, other teachers or coaches.

Artists take part in chamber music projects and receive dedicated coaching for these projects.

The residency offers access to a wide range of formats designed to prepare artists for their professional careers:

• Public masterclasses with Masters in residence and Guest Masters
• Participation in concerts programmed as part of the public concert season and with the Music Chapel’s partners
• Thematic workshops (professional and personal development)
• Individual coaching and projects covering stage preparation, auditions and international competitions

The stage as preparation for professional life

Throughout their residency, artists have numerous opportunities to perform for different audiences: concerts in the public concert season, recitals, chamber music, collaborations with orchestras, festivals and more, both in Belgium and abroad.

They learn to find their place on stage, work with other musicians, engage with an audience, meet the demands of concert performance and take ownership of their artistic choices.

Above all, they have the opportunity to share the stage with artists they admire and with their own Masters. The stage thus becomes a place of learning and transmission, just like the studio or the rehearsal room.

The prominent role given to performance in the programme is also a practical way of preparing for professional life: performing, meeting concert presenters collaborating with orchestras and festivals, building connections and beginning to establish a place in the musical world.

Broadening your practice, developing your skills

The Music Chapel encourages artists to take part in projects that expose them to different aspects of professional life.

The Community projects are a perfect example. Meeting different audiences, sometimes far removed from traditional music venues, allows artists to develop a different relationship with the public and reflect on their role in society. These experiences are an integral part of the programme: they teach artists how to lead a project, work with others, take initiative and give meaning to their practice.

Learning from one another

Being an Artist in residence also means learning from peers in other sections. Artists are warmly encouraged to attend, as listeners, the private and public masterclasses given by Masters in residence and Guest Masters, as well as all workshops, subject to availability.

They also have access to all concerts in the Music Chapel’s public season as audience members.

Applications for the 2027-2028 season are open until December 4, 2026.

Contact admissions team: admission@musicchapel.org 

Contact: Anne-Lise Parotte, Artistic Director
alparotte@musicchapel.org

 

Artistic Support

Instruments & Library

The Music Chapel makes a number of high-quality bows, violins, violas and cellos freely available to Artists in residence upon request. These instruments belong either to the Music Chapel or to private benefactors.

Pianos are available to Artists in residence in all studios and rehearsal rooms at the Music Chapel and the Manoir d’Argenteuil.

The Music Chapel’s library provides scores at the Artist’s request and can also assist with the editing of manuscripts, as well as transpositions and arrangements.

Find out more about instrument loans

Recording

The Music Chapel supports Artists in residence in making recordings, for example for competitions or auditions.

The number of recording hours is determined in consultation with the Artistic Department and the sound engineer.

Promotion & Career Development

The Music Chapel places great importance on supporting its Artists at the beginning of their careers and helping them establish themselves professionally.

We support their professional development, highlight their strengths and help present them to audiences in the best possible way. We also support them in planning their careers over the long term. The Music Chapel helps Artists develop their professional profile and visibility through a range of communication channels, including social media, the press and radio programmes.

The Music Chapel also helps Artists in residence develop the strongest possible professional network by introducing them to artistic directors in Belgium and abroad.

Workshops to prepare for life as an artist

Alongside artistic work and individual lessons, the Music Chapel regularly offers workshops, coaching sessions and collective projects that support artists in the different dimensions of their professional and personal development.

Topics may include:

• Stage and performance preparation: preparing for concerts, auditions and competitions, performance management and stage presence.
• Career development: artist management, relationships with record labels and industry professionals, communication, press relations and professional networking.
• Entrepreneurship and project management: creating, developing and managing artistic projects, as well as the skills needed to build a professional career.
• Communication and social media: developing an artistic identity, content creation, photography, video, editing, storytelling and communication across different platforms.
• Artist health and wellbeing: bodywork, injury prevention, physical preparation and recovery, as well as psychological and mental wellbeing.
• Instrumental practice: instrument care, good practices for use and prevention of wear and tear.
• Social engagement: preparing for projects involving specific audiences, raising awareness of different intervention contexts, and providing support before and after these experiences.
• Collective practice and interdisciplinary projects: chamber music, collective projects and encounters with audiences and external partners.

Depending on the needs and projects, these formats may take the form of group sessions, individual meetings, masterclasses, coaching sessions or group projects. The aim is to provide artists with practical tools to develop their practice, look after their wellbeing, lead their own projects and build their professional lives beyond musical practice alone.

Personal development

In addition to musical training, the Music Chapel offers a range of activities and opportunities designed to support the wellbeing of Artists in residence, including physiotherapy, French lessons, physical and mental preparation for competitions, mindfulness and workshops focusing on concentration, wellbeing and creativity.

Your Artistic Journey

Beyond the residency: joining a community

Joining the Music Chapel means becoming part of a community for life. Admission marks an important step in each artist’s journey: the residency gives them the opportunity to develop artistically, perform on stage, work alongside Masters and gradually build their own path. At the end of this journey, obtaining the Artist Diploma marks a new stage: the artist becomes an Associate Artist of the Music Chapel and joins a community that continues to support them well beyond their residency.

The connection does not end with the Artist Diploma.

Being part of the Music Chapel means joining a community of more than 550 Alumni, now active all over the world. We keep this community alive over time by regularly creating opportunities to come together, both in Belgium and abroad.