Research Catalogue

an international database for artistic research

• 3. Internal publication Research published in this issue are only for internal circulation within the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague.
• 2. Royal Conservatoire Investigations Royal Conservatoire Investigations
• 1. Master Research Projects All research in KC

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  Exploring the Potential of Spatial Audio for Live Sound Productions (2025) author(s): Mick van Broekhoven Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  Spatial audio technology is evolving rapidly, offering new creative possibilities for live sound. The primary goal of this thesis is to bridge the gap between the potential of the evolving technology in spatial audio and its creative application in a live sound environment for smaller venues. This research aims to provide designers and engineers with actionable insights and tools for creatively integrating spatial audio by evaluating its impact on the audience’s experience. A listening test was conducted using a five-speaker frontal row setup to compare different panning algorithms based on their localisation accuracy. Additionally, hands-on case studies and surveys were used to identify the impact on the audience’s experience and to find practical limitations of implementing spatial audio, such as space and available technical resources. The findings highlight how spatial audio can enhance storytelling and audience immersion in live sound designs but also reveal key constraints that need to be considered for successful implementation. Based on these insights, this thesis offers suggestions for applying spatial audio techniques in smaller venues, helping designers and engineers to effectively and creatively implement spatial audio in their live sound designs.
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• Exploring the Impact of Regular Performance and Journal Writing on Adolescent Musicians: a Path To Alleviating Musical Performance Anxiety. (2025) author(s): Filipe Capitão published in: KC Research Portal
  Musical performance anxiety is a challenge that affects many musicians, often hindering their ability to express themselves fully on stage. Drawing from my own experiences, this project explores how regular performance opportunities and reflective journaling can help young musicians overcome these fears. Over two weeks of workshops at the Conservatório de Música de Vila do Conde in Portugal, teenagers aged 15 to 18 will participate in performances, write about their experiences in journals, and discuss their reflections with peers. The goal is to help them better understand their emotions, develop practical strategies, and build confidence on stage. Using questionnaires and journal entries, the project will assess how these tools impact their comfort and growth as performers. Ultimately, the aim is to create a supportive environment where young musicians can face their fears, embrace self-expression, and find joy in their art.
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• Ensemble Beton—Excercising Artistic Research (2025) author(s): Luka Stefanović Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  This project is born out of the shared exploratory nature of musicians who specialise in either, and often both, the historically informed or ultracontemporary genres: there are many unifying qualities in the technical and musical approaches to exploring, rehearsing, and programming the musics of these genres, and it seems only logical that they should more often be put next to each other in a performance context. The goal was to create an exercise in true artistic research by practicing all of the systems—academic and performance-based alike—of fostering the growth of a concert series executing innovating programming methods, all the while keeping an aim solidly beyond just the two years under the roof of an educational institution afforded by a graduate degree. All aspects of the project center around the inaugural concert, taking the shape of a concept-program that places a commissioned work on either side of and within Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater". Musical preparations for the performance of the Pergolesi and a pre-concert lecture on themes related to both works are the extent of the traditional research, while the remainder is exhibition and synthesis of practical artistic research with a focus on creating something tangible through experience.
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  Efficient practice in Cello Sonata, Op. 19 by Rachmaninoff (2025) author(s): Ander Marzana Rincones Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata is a work of great expressive depth and technical complexity, posing the challenge of finding efficient practice strategies. This research combines bibliographic analysis on Rachmaninoff’s piano technique, practice methods and cognition with personal experience working on the piece alongside cellist Unai Sánchez. Notes from rehearsals, recordings, and performances in concerts and competitions were analyzed to explore different study and rehearsal strategies. The results highlight the importance of long-term planning, seeking comfort and flexibility in performance, and engaging in continuous reflection throughout the study process. These strategies not only facilitated the execution of the piece but also optimized preparation for live performances. Beyond the specific study of this sonata, the research revealed the broader impact of the process on developing essential skills such as organization, practice efficiency, and interpretation. The insights gained extended beyond this particular work, providing valuable tools applicable to other pieces in the piano and chamber music repertoire.
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  De la coïncidence à la concordance: when arts meets at the turn of the XXth century. (2025) author(s): Marie Es-Salmi Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  Arts can be categorised into different streams. Critics and historians are well-known for selecting these names regardless of the artist’s opinion. The research explore how distinct arts can convey similar messages using different methods, with a focus on Impressionism to support the argument. Debussy and Monet symbolise, respectively, music and painting at the turn of the XXth century in France. During this time, cultural institutions were shifting towards new languages, which led to Art as we know it today. This study begins with an overview of the impressionist movement and its origins, followed by Monet as a prime example for painting , and the music, with Debussy. It will then analyse what some of their works contained to uncover the specific elements and the artistic process that made them stand out, both in their time and from today’s perspective. This comparison aims to explore possible common ground by considering the artists’ works side by side. This exploration will deepen insight of their artistic distinctiveness and to consider whether “Impressionism” was merely a critique of the artists expression, or a coincidence that gave an impulse to evolution?
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• Cultivating courage on stage by applying various practice methods (2025) author(s): Joost Hettinga Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  This research focuses on cultivating courage on stage. Many music students in conservatoires struggle with stage fright and a big gap between potential and outcome. Three different practice strategies aimed at cultivating courage were selected and applied in a practice-based experiment.  Two of these strategies are science-supported, namely Random Practice and Practicing Performing. In Random Practice, musical material that needs to be studied is practiced in short bits instead of larger chunks. Practicing Performing entails choosing several performance moments and tracking possible development in performing skills. Additionally,  practicing 'Occupying Space' was applied, in which the performer seeks a feeling of playing outward and being open while practicing in order to make it a habit and ultimately being able to convert it to the stage. This combination of practice strategies was applied in the practice process of three fragments that were prepared for various performance settings. Each performance was followed up by an evaluation, which led to improvements of the applied practice strategies, adopting the methodology of action research. The research showed that the investigated practice strategies are potentially effective, but that the quality and timing of their application is highly influential. Random Practice is mostly helpful in a later stage of working towards performances. Practice Performing can be beneficial, but requires a high frequency and quality expectations should be set relatively low. Practicing Occupying Space provides the musician with a more suitable mindset to perform, but is only of value when combined with other strategies.
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