Encounters in Flagey: Higgi and the young choristes of Flagey Academy

On Saturday 28 January, 15 young choir members of Flagey Academy YOUTH CHOIRS met British choral conductor Edward Higginbottom, who directed for 40 years the New College Choir of Oxford, one of the world’s most renowned choirs for young choristers.

During an afternoon of intense work, in the presence of family and friends, Edward Higginbottom – affectionately called Higgi by his students – showed attentiveness to each singer. His conducting style is both demanding and benevolent, strict and full of humour. His charisma and ability to listen left a lasting impression on each of the young choir members.

Edward Higginbottom spent three days at Flagey, attending rehearsals, meeting the staff and working with the artistic committee of Flagey Academy, of which he is a prominent member.

“For the young choir members and the Flagey-team, these three days of intense exchanges have been unforgettable in many ways. What a wonderful experience to see our young choir members evolve and grow greatly in just a few hours, under the beneficent direction of Edward Higginbottom. We are already looking forward to the next meetings in Brussels and Oxford!”

Gilles Ledure, general and artistic director of Flagey:

Flagey Academy is a multiannual choir project for children and young people in Brussels aged from 6 to 20. The participants, both boys and girls, are selected on the basis of motivation and recruited from primary schools in Brussels that reflect the city’s social, cultural and linguistic diversity. Inspired by the work of the Oxford New College Choir and the Thomanerchor in Leipzig, Gilles Ledure, general manager of Flagey, founded the Academy in 2019.

The project aims to bring singers from across the city together though choral singing, and to foster in them a love of music and a sense of purpose.

Want to know more? Visit the page of Flagey Academy.