For several decades, many national governments have been developing policies to meet the fact that western societies are becoming increasingly multicultural. Institutions for music education are gradually becoming aware of the challenges of the multicultural surroundings in which they operate, and they are beginning to be more and more internationally oriented.

With these ideas in mind, a concept was developed for an international centre of excellence: World Music Centre (WMC). The original idea was that about 250 students would be guided by a team of traditional masters, young accomplished musicians and education specialists in a specially designed campus. This setting and the Centre’s resources would be conducive to creating an inspiring learning environment for the students, partly as a contemporary re-creation of the traditional settings of handing down world music, and partly as a high-tech facility, with a digital window on the world.

The development plan for such a centre travelled around Europe for some time before definitely landing in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where local partners Codarts (Rotterdam Conservatoire) and SKVR (Music and Dance School) joined forces to realise the World Music & Dance Centre.

The current World Music & Dance Centre (WMDC) in Rotterdam is built around performance practice. The centre of the actual building in Rotterdam is occupied by a performance space through which pass all kinds of students, young pupils, performers and audiences every day. The organisation underlying this, the World Music & Dance Centre Foundation, is constantly developing its programme and activities. Visit the website for more information and the current program.

To stay updated on the latest developments around the World Music Centre, join the newsletter by sending an e-mail with World Music Centre in the subject line.