echo

the classical music sector event

How do we make, perform and experience classical music today? And what does the future hold? Echo is the event during which authoritative voices in the sector scrutinise the state of classical music, provide a reality check, and look ahead.

With Echo we present, together with our partners, a fresh re-launch of the former ‘States-General of classical music’. A well-established name kicks off Echo with a ‘state of the music’ followed by a ‘state of the youth’ by emerging talent. In a panel discussion or during inspiration sessions, both experts and audience members continue the conversation. One particular theme serves as the leitmotif for each session.

Echo is an initiative of Klarafestival, Kunstenpunt, Bozar, Concertgebouw Brugge, De Singel and de Bijloke.

2026 - it's complicated

Classical music is often regarded as timeless, but how does it relate to the urgency of pressing social issues? How can we enrich classical music and allow it to resonate today with the complexities of contemporary society? During the annual sector day, the spotlight fell on classical music in times of unrest.

Across four plenary sessions, we heard a range of perspectives from, among others, Gorges Ocloo, Madeline Saputra, Jan Van den Bossche, Marijn Lems, Annick Schramme, Andrea Voets and Riah Naief. The State of the Union address was delivered by musicology professor Makis Solomos. Interdisciplinary artist and composer Golnaz Shariatzadeh presented the State of the Youth.

Download and read the report of Echo 2026 (in Dutch)

2025 - coming of age

Centuries-old music scores and never-before-heard sounds. Tradition and innovation. Bright young prodigies and éminences grises. Classical music is where old and new meet. Age is a central axis around which we think, play, create and experience music. So, it’s high time to consider, together with the young, old and everyone in between, what age means for our sector. During Echo 2025, we explored these topics with keynote speakers Anne La Berge and Diamanda La Berge Dramm, and with a number of experts during six inspiration sessions.

Download and read the report of Echo 2025 (in Dutch)

2024 - Unheard. Perspectives on Listening.

The third edition of Echo at De Singel highlighted different perspectives on listening under the title ‘Unheard. Perspectives on Listening'. The day started with a State of the Youth by Mostafa Taleb, a Brussels-based Kamancheh player and composer with Iranian roots, who combines Western and Persian classical music in his practice. British journalist and broadcaster (BBC Radio 3) Kate Molleson closed with her State of the Union.

Download and read the report of Echo 2024 (in Dutch)

2023 - Quality(s)

In 2023, we focused on the theme of ‘Quality(s)’ at the Concertgebouw Brugge. Toks Dada, head of classical music at Southbank Centre, provided the ‘state of the union’, pianist and young talent Djuwa Mroivili covered the ‘state of the youth’.

Download and read the report of Echo 2023 (in Dutch)

2022 - how we perceive classical music after covid

In 2022, festival artist Reinoud Van Mechelen, the young musicians of NEMØ ensemble and Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort, Pak Yan Lau, Tamar Brüggemann and Benjamin Glorieux tackled the question of how we perceive classical music after covid.