‘Studying at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam must be a very special experience.’
‘A master programme of excellent quality’, and ‘studying at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam must be a very special experience’. This is stated in the report of the international panel of the NVAO that visited the Conservatorium van Amsterdam on 27 and 28 January last as part of the accreditation of the Master of Music degree. The panel spoke with students, alumni, teachers, programme coordinators and the Examination Board. In addition, the committee attended (graduation) concerts.
The panel is very positive about the quality of the master programme. “Over the past years, this commitment to excellence has been a driving force for CvA in investing in six strategic areas: internationalisation, a safe learning environment, a customised student-centred learning approach, research, technological innovation, and social awareness.'' Almost all CvA alumni find relevant work as a performing artist. Moreover, the final exams show that the students’s level on graduation is amply sufficient for them to acquire a position at the international top. "Highly impressed by the way the Conservatorium van Amsterdam is constantly reflecting on the developments in the music sector and in higher education, and is undertaking action to integrate these developments in its programmes,’ says the committee. The teaching staff and the learning environment are assessed as excellent. The teaching staff is of high quality both artistically and pedagogically. The facilities of the conservatory enable students to present themselves optimally to the outside world.
Dutch National Opera Academy
The Dutch National Opera Academy (DNOA) has also been assessed as very good. The opera programme, a joint venture of the CvA and the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, was visited by an accreditation committee on 16 and 17 January.
The committee judged the study programme to be unique; the DNOA meets the requirements set for opera singers worldwide and therefore acts as a good stepping stone to a career on the international opera stage. The panel praised the holistic approach of the curriculum, in which students not only learn to sing at a high level, but also develop their acting skills. The training reflects the practice of an opera house and, because of its small scale, creates a learning environment in which students feel safe and can optimally work on their development.
AEMA accreditated as Associate Degree
Previously, the Amsterdam Electronic Music Academy study programme received an Associate Degree accreditation. An Associate Degree is a two-year practice-oriented course at a professional education level which trains for a legally recognized degree. The NVAO accreditation panel ascertained that the AEMA study programme is well aligned with the international requirements in the professional field, thanks in part to the international position of the teaching team. The panel also judged positively about the expertise of the teaching staff.
