The Lemmensinstituut The Lemmensinstituut (Lemmens Institute) is a

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

conservatory of music A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger i ...

. It was founded in Mechelen, in 1879, by the Belgian bishops as the ''École de musique religieuse'' (School of Religious Music). It was later renamed after its first director, Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens. Although its programs were greatly expanded over the years, it remained in essence a school of religious music until the 1960s and 1970s, when major changes occurred. It moved to Leuven in 1968, and its programs were aligned on those of Belgium's conservatories of music, such that in 1971 its "laureate" diploma was considered legally equivalent to a "First Prize" of a conservatory. It also added a teacher's training course (a "Music Pedagogy" course of study), and a high school specializing in music. Nowadays the Lemmensinstituut has a reputation for offering one of Europe's finest Music Therapy degree programs. The institute's Music Pedagogy course of study is also well known in Europe and in its history the Lemmens Institute has trained many famous composers including

Jan van der Roost Jan Van der Roost (born Duffel, 1956) is a Belgian composer. Van der Roost was educated at the Lemmensinstituut in Leuven (1974-1979), and followed further studies at the Royal Conservatory in Ghent and the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp. ...

and Piet Swerts. In addition to the Music Education degree programs, the institute also offers a teaching degree in Drama. The Music Department has been led by the following directors: * 1879–1881: Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens * 1881–1909:

Edgar Tinel Edgar Pierre Joseph Tinel (27 March 185428 October 1912) was a Belgian composer and pianist. He was born in Sinaai, today part of Sint-Niklaas in East Flanders, Belgium, and died in Brussels. After studies at the Brussels Conservatory with Lou ...

* 1909–1917: Aloys Desmet * 1918–1952: Jules Van Nuffel * 1953–1962: Jules Vyverman * 1962–1988: Jozef Joris Van Heeswijck * 1988–2005: Paul Schollaert * since 2005: Marc Erkens

External links

* * Music schools in Belgium 1879 establishments in Belgium {{Belgium-stub