PCM (Profile Contemporary Music) challenges students to develop novel musical concepts, multimedia performances and multidisciplinary projects that reflect a new way of thinking about music and genre. Contrary to the traditional teacher-student educational structure, PCM functions as a laboratory, consisting of ten students from different disciplines and departments (jazz, classical, pop, early music). These students have all obtained their bachelors in composition, live electronics and/or instrumental/vocal studies, and participate in the PCM project as a master profile. PCM seeks not to teach ‘how to make music’, but ‘how to be a musician’. The method invites carefully selected and promising students to think carefully about how to build and manage their future careers. But first and foremost, the programme challenges them to love the experiment, getting influenced and being inspired.

The PCM programme starts twice a year, in September and February. The point of departure is always a commission by a festival (for example Night of the Unexpected, Lowlands, Oerol, Gaudeamus). This is a 100% professional commission and it commits the PCM team to a high quality realization. The students then have three months to develop a cross-over production. The content of the production is free and is confined only by the specifics of the commission. The group can also attract other students of the conservatory or work with artist in other fields.

Through the whole programme, the students are coached by the teachers of the PCM team. Furthermore, PCM works closely together with musicians, composers and artists who have an interesting crossover oeuvre, such as guitarist and composer Adrian Belew, DJ/producer Arjen de Vreede (DJ DNA) and cellist/composer Ernst Reijseger. Every edition, one or even two of them can be asked to be involved in the project as a guest teacher and 'eleventh team member'. If the result is considered successful upon its first presentation, the production will be performed at the commissioning festival and in some cases even other festivals.