The ERASMUS MUNDUS JOINT MASTER programme RESONO is a highly specialised initiative in the field of performing arts that is aimed at recruiting high-potential students from all over the world. This joint master programme is organised collaboratively between three prestigious institutions: The Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp (RCA), Escola Superior de Música e Artes Do Espetáculo (ESMAE), and Lietuvos Muzikos Ir Teatro (LMTA). 

The programme spans two academic years, culminating in 120 ECTS credits and offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes RESONO Lab, RESONO Project, Artistic Research, and additional supporting courses that are tailored to the specialisations of each institute. The programme requires an admission test after which successful applicants will begin their journey by spending one semester at each of the participating institutions resulting in the performance of their personal RESONO project and artistic research.

This Composer-Performer Lab lets students become innovators, collaborators and performers who will make waves in the music world. Students will step into the spotlight, where every note resonates with the promise of artistic excellence and boundless possibilities.

RESONO LAB is organised in every partner institution and promises 3 semesters of musical innovation and transformative experiences with contact hours organised in group sessions. Students will hone their practical skills in composition and performance and dive into group experiments to explore new forms of musical expression. Testing new tools and methods will aid them in engaging audiences and fostering cultural exchange. Collaborative learning is key.

Critical analysis, composition technique and performance will be guided by both in-house professors and external guests from various artistic disciplines.

A weekly menu of activities ranges from seminars from esteemed guests to yoga sessions and excursions. Students will collaborate and navigate the intricacies of their personal RESONO projects by engaging in peer feedback sessions and building up their performance muscles.

Bi-weekly encounters with industry experts will guarantee an incredible amount of networking and learning opportunities. 

The course content is structured around six strands that will determine the topics of the seminars and workshops:

1. Artist in society: curator, world/subcultures, socio-cultural initiatives, community, engagement
2. Composition techniques: Electronic music/arranging/analysis/acoustics
3. On-stage story telling: performance techniques like scenography, texts, choreography, augmented performance
4. Improvisation
5. Interdisciplinarity
6. Entrepreneurial artist: manager/Programme director/producer

The labs provide a creative learning environment where students experiment, collaborate, and reflect. The course culminates in a festival where students from all partner institutions can meet, highlighting the program’s global perspective. The teaching methodologies, including hands-on composition, peer collaboration, and field visits, create an immersive experience, fostering creativity and technical proficiency. Assessment methods, such as composition portfolios and live performances aid in preparing students for real-world scenarios.

RESONO Project will take students through the realms of musical composition and performance, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. During this course, RESONO masters will create their unique, individual signature project. The starting point will originate from the project concept they prepared for the entrance exam, but can change during their studies. This will help them infuse their vision with new experiences and insights gained during the RESONO Lab and Artistic Research.

The course encourages adaptability, prompting students to explore innovative solutions to complex entrepreneurial challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. Additionally, inter-semestrial festivals will provide a platform for students to showcase their musical identities and take their ideas and experiments on stage.

An online portfolio system with a self-evaluation module will aid students in documenting their individual proces. This tool can be used to help them develop a strong personal artistic vision and entrepreneurial skills.

The climax of each project is a public-worthy art performance, showcasing the students’ organisational prowess, artistic brilliance and connection with their chosen external locations and society. The assessment, split between portfolio evaluation and artistic performance, ensures a comprehensive evaluation of their mastery, creativity and impact in the musical landscape.

While setting up the architecture of their RESONO projects, students will focus of their artistry through crafting innovative compositions and performances, and actively engaging with diverse artistic visions and feedback from stakeholders. From planning to execution, RESONO Project readies students for diverse and fulfilling music careers all while nurturing their artistic identity. 

Interweaving organisational, business and production aspects with artistic brilliance, from start to finish, students take centre stage, developing their own concepts into projects, culminating in a professional showcase. As the curtain rises, each project becomes a unique fusion of artistic expression and societal connection, embodying the ethical responsibilities of artistry.

The grand finale of students’ musical journey is the RESONO Master Project.

The RESONO Master Project is the culmination of the preparatory work in RESONO projects 1-2-3, The RESONO lab and the Artistic research, spinning together the threads of this musical journey into a final masterpiece. The final performance, deeply embedded in local/national/global cultural sectors, becomes a testament to artistic growth. The evaluation, a balanced mix of portfolio assessment and artistic performance, ensures a thorough examination of concepts, planning, execution and societal impact.

Artistic Research is an immersive journey. Students will explore the  foundations of scientific and artistic investigation and the rich history of European artistic and societal thought, covering everything from pre-Socratic philosophers to the intriguing twists of logical positivism. 

A deep dive into artistic research will lay the groundwork for a better understanding of procedural, experiential and relational knowledge all while students learn more about the ethics of artistic exploration.

It’s not just theory! Students will also actively engage in project design, state-of-the-art elaboration, planning, execution and documentation. Plus, the course equips participants with indispensable tools for bibliographic management, academic writing, and ethical considerations. With two evaluation moments, including a scientific research proposal and a critical review of artistic research perspectives, Artistic Research promises a dynamic, hands-on learning experience.

The course is designed for active discovery, promoting cooperative learning through autonomous reading, vibrant discussions and critical assessments of various artistic research proposals. Students will learn how to express their creations through various types of media (written text, images, scores, video, etc) and weave this into their artistic project.