Established in 1872, the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Lyon has grown into a true pillar of Lyon’s cultural landscape. It is more than just a school. It is a vibrant hub for artistic expression.
The Conservatoire de Lyon started small. Édouard Mangin founded it. He became its first director. Before this, Lyon’s musicians trained at the Académie Royale des Beaux Arts and the opera. The state quickly recognized the Conservatoire. By 1874, it gained the title “Succursale du Conservatoire de Paris.” Around 1889, student numbers soared to 700.
Initially focused on classical music, the Conservatoire de Lyon evolved over time. Dance arrived in 1980. Jazz followed in 1988. World music joined in 2001. Contemporary and amplified music appeared in 2003. Theater came back in 2006 after a 12-year break.
In 1993, the Conservatoire de Lyon became its own entity. It was previously a municipal service. It transformed into a public establishment. This involved both the City of Lyon and the Rhône Department. In 2015, the Métropole de Lyon replaced the Rhône Department.
Today, the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Lyon has seven decentralized branches. These branches extend its reach across the city. It strives to provide a full educational path. This path caters to everyone’s goals. The Conservatoire offers initiation, amateur practice and pre-professional training.
The Conservatoire de Lyon actively promotes awareness. They do this within Lyon’s primary schools. A team of over 30 musicians and dancers visits the schools. They work with the national education system and the city’s education services. Each year, they reach more than 12,000 young people in Lyon.
With over 240 permanent teachers, the Conservatoire de Lyon welcomes 2,700 students. The administrative team includes 60 staff members. For 75 years, the Conservatoire was in the Palais de Bondy. In 1978, it moved to its current location. It is near the Basilique de Fourvière. The city bought a former Jesuit property. This property used to house the Fourvière theology faculty.
The Conservatoire de Lyon now spans four buildings on the Fourvière site. Building A hosts music classes and a department for acoustic music and percussion. Building B houses music courses, administration, and the dance department. Building C features two performance halls that seat over 300 people. It also contains singing rooms. Building D, called Cléberg, offers various practice rooms.
The Conservatoire de Lyon offers a “Discovery Cycle.” This cycle introduces 300 children to music and dance. After two years, the Conservatoire offers four learning cycles. The second cycle ends with a certificate. The third cycle ends with a diploma in music, choreography, or theater. A fourth “advanced” cycle prepares students for higher education.
Since 2012, the Conservatoire de Lyon has used a “personalized path” system. This modular system adapts to students’ diverse profiles and goals. The Conservatoire organizes meetings between teachers and external figures. They conduct educational experiments. Since 2016, two degree paths have operated with Université Lyon 2: Music Performance and Cultural Mediation.
The Conservatoire de Lyon presents almost 300 events each year. These events aim to strengthen the link between teaching and sharing. Student performances are part of their education. They help young artists connect with audiences. The Conservatoire highlights group practices. It values its forty permanent ensembles. These include three symphony orchestras and a chamber orchestra. The library provides consultations and loans of sheet music, books, and periodicals. It offers 45,000 scores and 6,000 books on music and the arts. There are also 2,000 specialized periodicals. Almost 20,000 scores are available for direct loan.
So, the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Lyon is more than just a building. It is a living, breathing testament to Lyon’s commitment to the arts. It shapes future generations of musicians, dancers, and actors. It enriches the cultural life of the city and beyond.