1. Overall info
The FIFTH edition of International Festival Music Academy FORTE for young musicians will take place in Brussels on July 6-12th, 2025 and will end with a Gala concert on July 12th, 2025.
The International Festival Music Academy FORTE is open for musicians of 8-25 y.o., players of piano, violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, guitar, and vocal (singing). All participants have opportunity to follow masterclasses of chamber music & orchestra & choral & piano ensembles & opera workshop.
2. Important deadlines
2.1. May 15th, 2025 – deadline for application for participation at the master classes
Online registration will start from January 1st 2025
IMPORTANT :
We can accept MAXIMUM 10 participants by teacher (solo instrument), based on: “First come – first served” principal.
During the registration there is a list for choose the teacher for solo lessons and participant has possibility to make 3 choices.
The organiser will take the choice of teachers into account mentioned during the registration. However, the final decision on whose class you will end up in belongs to the organiser. No disputes are possible. Music Academy Forte guarantees the high level of each professor. The next working day following the registration final confirmation will be send with all details.
For registration you need to fill out an online application form. (Online Registration Form for the master classes will be available soon)
When filling out the online form, you will need to:
- attach a scan of an artistic photo of the participant (in jpeg format)
- attach a passport or participant ID scan (in jpeg format)
- attach a YouTube link with a recent performance of participant (free program max 10 min)
- pay full amount as a registration fee (payment by credit card, not refundable).
TWO IMPORTANT THINGS:
- While filling out the application form, you must indicate your choice of the mode of accommodation: Internat or Externat:
- Internat: choose if you would like to sleep at academy premises during the entire duration of the event. In this case, you will get a bed in a shared room (4 children). Additional costs of 300 euros for the entire period applies.
- Externat: choose if you would like to be present at the academy:
- from 08:30 till 22:00 OPTION A.FULL WORKSHOP
- from 11:00 till 22:00 OPTION B.01 HALF WORKSHOP WITH EXCURSIONS or EXTRA SOPRT ACTIVITIES
- from 15:00 till 22:00 OPTION B.02 HALF WORKSHOP WITHOUT EXCURSIONS & WITHOUT ANY EXTRA SPORT ACTIVITIES
- depending on the planning and sleep elsewhere (Attention! The leaving hours will be later on the days when you participate in concerts or competition). With Externat option no extra costs apply.
2. While filling out the application form, you must indicate your choice of type of the education:
FULL (chamber music & private lessons & orchestra included) *all info at chap.3
HALF WITH EXCURSIONS (orchestra included) *all info at chap.3
HALF WITHOUT EXCURSIONS (orchestra included) *all info at chap.3
2.2. May 20-30th, 2025 – all information about the program for chamber music & orchestra & piano ensembles & choral & opera workshop will be send by mail.
3. Total costs of Participation in the International Music Academy FORTE
OPTION A. FULL WORKSHOP
700-euro players of piano, violin, viola, and cello
500-euro players of guitar, trumpet, bassoon, oboe, flute and singers
Masterclasses & rehearsals 09:00-18:00 then concerts till 22:00 each day
09:00-13:30 Masterclasses & rehearsals
13:30 lunch
14:15-15:45 Masterclasses & rehearsals
16:00-18:00 Rehearsals orchestra or choral or piano ensembles or opera workshop
15:00-18:00 Concerts till 22:00 each day
OPTION B.01 HALF WORKSHOP WITH EXCURSIONS or EXTRA SOPRT ACTIVITIES
600-euro players of any instrument
11:00-14:00 Excursions & different activities
14:15 lunch
15:00-18:00 Rehearsals orchestra or choral or piano ensembles or opera workshop
15:00-18:00 Concerts till 22:00 each day
OPTION B.02 HALF WORKSHOP WITHOUT EXCURSIONS & WITHOUT ANY EXTRA SPORT ACTIVITIES
300-euro players of any instrument or singing
15:00-18:00 Rehearsals orchestra or choral or piano ensembles or opera workshop
then concerts till 22:00 each day
Refund policy
In case of cancellation:
• before May 15th 2025 /participation fees/ Piano, violin, viola, cello:
600 Euros will be refunded
• before May 15th 2025 /participation fees/ guitar, trumpet, bassoon, oboe, flute and singers:
350 Euros will be refunded
• before May 15th 2025 / Internat fees
250 Euros will be refunded
• after May 20 2025 : participation fees will not be refunded
• after May 20 2025 : Internaut fees will not be refunded
During Force Majeure Events (such as entrance are banned by law, border closure etc.) refund is possible.
4. Each participant will get the following masterclasses
OPTION A. FULL WORKSHOP
THE COSTS COVER:
• Individual lessons: 3 x 45min
• Chamber music lessons: 10 x 45min
• Orchestra rehearsals for string instruments, trumpet, bassoon, and flute: each day +- 2h00
• Extra rehearsals for piano, guitar and singers each day +- 2h00
• Opera workshop each day +- 3h00
And extra:
• Meals (lunch&diner)
• Professional photos (selected pieces will be published on our web)
• Professional video recording during the concerts and competition (selected pieces will be published on our YouTube)
• Excursions in the area the day following the GALA concert.
• Sport facilities
• Rooms for practicing
• Costs for supervision and day care for minor participants
• Extra activities for young musicians
OPTION B.01 HALF WORKSHOP WITH EXCURSIONS or EXTRA SPORT ACTIVITIES
THE COSTS COVER:
• Orchestra rehearsals for string instruments or Choral or Opera workshop : each day +- 3h00
• Rehearsals for piano ensembles each day +- 3h00
And extra:
• Meals (lunch&diner)
• Professional photos (selected pieces will be published on our web)
• Professional video recording during the concerts and competition (selected pieces will be published on our YouTube)
• Excursions (museum of Brussels, Museum Beaux Art, Visit city hall etc) in the area or sport activities out of the academy each day (as swimming pool etc)
• Rooms for practicing
• Costs for supervision and day care for minor participants
• Extra activities for young musicians
OPTION B.02 HALF WORKSHOP WITHOUT EXCURSIONS & WITHOUT ANY EXTRA SPORT ACTIVITIES
THE COSTS COVER:
• Orchestra rehearsals for string instruments or Choral or Opera workshop : each day +- 3h00
• Rehearsals for piano ensembles each day +- 3h00
And extra:
• Meal (only diner)
• Professional photos (selected pieces will be published on our web)
• Professional video recording during the concerts and competition (selected pieces will be published on our YouTube)
• Rooms for practicing
• Costs for supervision and day care for minor participants
• Extra activities for young musicians
5. Planning of a typical day
-from 08:30 till 22:00 OPTION A.FULL WORKSHOP
-from 11:00 till 22:00 OPTION B.01 HALF WORKSHOP WITH EXCURSIONS or EXTRA SOPRT ACTIVITIES
-from 15:00 till 22:00 OPTION B.02 HALF WORKSHOP WITHOUT EXCURSIONS & WITHOUT ANY EXTRA SPORT ACTIVITIES
6. Scholarships for Masterclasses FORTE 2026:
Scholarships might be considered by administration based on results of Music Competition FORTE 2025.
7. Insurance
Each participant is responsible for personal medical insurance, accident risk and personal belongings including insurance of his/her instrument. All insurance must be prepaid and copies of the contracts must be submitted to Summer Music Academy FORTE by the beginning of the course.
8. Parents
Our staff will welcome all participants of younger ages. They make sure that they go to bed on time and eat properly.
Students will have some free time in between their lessons, concerts, excursions… but stay all together during their free time in order to be able to build new relationships and find new friends.
We encourage parents to attend the students’ concerts and festival concerts but they are not admitted to enter chamber music, individual lessons or orchestra rehearsals.
For the same reasons, parents are not allowed to enter the school area during masterclass period except for concerts, competition, open masterclasses & conference.
9. Additional Information
- Chamber music: music of the different chamber music ensembles will be sent to the participants by e-mail during month of Mai.
- SOLO: participants must prepare two complete pieces by different composers in advance of the course for SOLO lessons.
After inscription for the participation in the masterclasses, the candidate can indicate his/her preference for competition or solo concert for SOLO program. The deadline for changes is May 31st 2025. No changes will be accepted after the deadline.
- Accompanist: Solo lessons of flute, violin, cello will be done without accompanist. The accompanist will attend one rehearsal before the competition or concert. Rehearsal duration: 15 min – 30 min, depending on the age and program
For all participants: no music of Russian composers can be performed during the competition & masterclasses
IMPORTANT : The organiser will take the choice of teachers into account mentioned during the registration. However, the final decision on whose class you will end up in belongs to the organiser. No disputes are possible. Music Academy Forte guarantees the high level of each professor.
10. Responsibilities
The administration of the academy does not bear any responsibility for the children who must move to the academy premises before the beginning of the master classes (9:00am, July 6th, 2025) or after the end of the academy classes (22:00 on the day of the Gala Concert (July 12th, 2025).
All responsibility beyond the hours/dates of the masterclasses rests solely with the parents.
11. Videos and Recordings
The public is prohibited from photographing or filming during the performances. The organizer of the Masterclass and the Competition has the right to take and reproduce photographs, video and sound recordings, as well as broadcasts on radio and TV channels. The International Festival Music Academy FORTE reserves the right, without payment of fees, to make and distribute recordings for media and other purposes, including the Internet, and to televise, broadcast, record, film, photograph or live stream all stages of the masterclass and competition, all award ceremonies and concerts.
12. Important Statement
International Festival “Music Academy Forte”
for Youth supports Ukraine
STATEMENT
International Festival “Music Academy Forte” strongly condemns Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. In addition, he condemns the participation of Belarus in Russia’s military aggression.
Having decided to take part in this festival (competition, masterclasses, concerts), each participant signs these words and confirms his negative attitude towards the politics of the Russian Federation and thereby supports Ukraine in the struggle for the freedom and independence of the nation.
If the participant has the citizenship of the Russian Federation or Belarus, the participant undertakes to speak under a neutral flag and not to declare himself as a representative of the aggressor country.