150 years of HKU Utrechts Conservatorium means 150 years of music in the city, 150 generations of alumni performing their music throughout Utrecht and beyond. Our students and alumni can be found on many stages throughout the city, but also in music schools, primary and secondary schools, and numerous social and cultural institutions. They are also entrepreneurs who enrich the city with many new initiatives. During our anniversary celebrations we showcased the wonderful talents of our students and alumni.
Anniversary 150 years HKU Utrechts Conservatorium
In the 25/26 academic year, HKU Utrechts Conservatorium celebrated its 150th anniversary. We marked the occasion from late November 2025 through to June 2026 with a festive anniversary programme for the whole city of Utrecht.
Anniversary 150 years HKU Utrechts Conservatorium
Featured
Opening weekend
On Friday 28 November, we kicked off our anniversary year with a completely sold-out opening concert in the Fentener van Vlissingen Hall. The HKU Large Ensemble – an ensemble of over sixty musicians comprising students from Classical Music, Jazz & Pop, Musician 3.0 and Music Education – performed hour-long concerts both in the afternoon and in the evening, featuring a repertoire by and under the musical direction of former Composer of the Netherlands Martin Fondse. Alumni also took part: saxophonist Kika Sprangers and vocalist Marit van der Lei.On Sunday 30 November, there was a well-attended alumni day. Over 400 alumni were present; some had graduated in the mid-1970s, others just last year. All these alumni came together to meet (again), reminisce, share experiences, attend sessions and, of course, play and listen to plenty of music.
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Closing event
The closing event marking 150 years of the HKU Utrechts Conservatorium was a huge musical celebration in the city, attended by hundreds of students, teachers and alumni, as well as singers and musicians from all over Utrecht. Following a lively musical parade through the city centre that attracted a large crowd, it was time for a special closing concert in the conservatoire’s main concert hall: the revival of a composition by Louis Andriessen that had only been performed once before.
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A brief historical overview
- The starting point of 150 years of HKU Utrecht Conservatory is the signing of the deed of foundation of the Toonkunst Music School on 1 December 1875.
- Since 1971, the Utrecht Conservatory has been located in the Building for Arts and Sciences and the former St. Joannes de Deo hospital, both on Mariaplaats.
- In 1987, the Utrecht Conservatory merged with the Carillon School in Amersfoort, the Netherlands Institute for Church Music, the Academy of Visual Arts and the Academy for Expression through Word and Gesture to form HKU.
- In 2011, HKU Utrecht Conservatory launched a new bachelor's programme: Musician 3.0, a programme that trains musicians regardless of genre or instrument.
Would you like to know more about our history? Read more about our two buildings: the Main Building and the Arts and Sciences Building.
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