The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis is a centre of expertise in the study of historical music performance, from the early Middle Ages right up to the 19th century. Here, teaching neatly dovetails with research and performance practice.
Highest standards of musical training
The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis is the best known and largest institute for the study of Early Music. With some 70 lecturers and around 200 students, it brings music spanning a millennium (9th to 19th century) back to life. It provides the highest standards of tuition in Early Music, whether in the major subject, compulsory practical subjects and in terms of theory. It also offers an excellent learning and research environment, first-rate infrastructures and an array of performance opportunities for its students. Thanks to the solid practical and academic grounding they receive, students of Early Music leave the Schola Cantorum with the skills and knowledge the need to forge a successful career in music.
Focus on Early Music
Studies
From bachelor's to specialised master's degree: all historically informed degree programmes at a glance
Degreee ProgrammesResearch
A unique centre of excellence: (basic) research in the tradition of historically informed performance practice, support for teaching and musical productions, organiser of international academic symposia, conferences, event and publication series.
Two fields of researchContinuing Education
Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Prélude, Te Deum, ca. 1692. Eurovisions-Hymne seit 1954. 
BA-Studentin Josefa Winterfeld 
Management Board & Administration
Institute/Study Programmes
The management team of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis consists of five people.
Continuing Education
With MAS AVES, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis offers continuing education for singers with a focus on early music.
Research
Research Secretariat
Administration and Concerts
Programme Administration Office
Office hours during the lecture period
Mo-Fr 10.30-11.30 Uhr and
Mo-Do 14.30-15.30 Uhr
Tel. +41 61 264 57 42
scb.hsm@fhnw.ch
Team
Concert and project organization, Social Media
Events and Research Secretariat
Collection of historical musical instruments
News
@schola
Instagram 🎶 YouTube 🎶 Vimeo 🎶 Event calendar
History & people
The history of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis – a driving force behind early music
From the very beginning, cellist and gambist August Wenzinger (1905-1996) and violinist, composer, and music teacher Ina Lohr (1903-1983) had a decisive influence. From the outset, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis consisted of a music school for children and amateurs and a concert division. Vocational training was soon added. Since 1954, both areas have been working with the current Basel Music School (amateur training) and the Basel Music Academy FHNW under the umbrella of the Musik-Akademie Basel. Paul Sacher (1906-1999), founding director since 1933, headed the entire Basel Music Academy until 1969. In 1999, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis was recognized as a “university” for early music, and in 2008 it was structurally integrated into the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), while the SCB music school remained part of the Basel Music Academy.
Founding director Paul Sacher
Graduates and lecturers:
Former teachers and lecturers were among others August Wenzinger, Hans Martin Linde, Tom Binkley, Gustav Leonhardt, Jaap Schröder, Eugen M. Dombois, Edward H. Tarr, René Jacobs, Montserrat Figueras, Jordi Savall, Anthony Rooley, Conrad Steinmann, Crawford Young, Dominique Vellard, Evelyn Tubb, Chiara Banchini, Hopkinson Smith, Gerd Türk, Donna Agrell, Wolfgang Zerer, Christophe Coin and Paolo Pandolfo.
Currently, well-known protagonists of early music teach here, including many alumni and alumnae: Jean-François Madeuf, Marc Hantaï, Jörg-Andreas Bötticher, Andrea Marcon, Marc Lewon, Baptiste Romain, Katarina Livljanic, Corina Marti, Amandine Beyer, Leila Schayegh, Frithjof Smith, Andreas Böhlen, Carlos Mena and others.
Famous graduates also include Ben Bagby, Barbara Thornton, Paul O’Dette, Bruce Dickey, Andreas Scholl, Maria Cristina Kiehr, Benjamin Alard and others.
Mission statement
Guiding principles and objectives, teaching and learning, research and collection, public relations, cooperation, concerts, documentation
startup program
The transcript from 1932
All new releases and publications can be found on the pages of our research portal.
Contact
Postal address & Concert place
Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Leonhardsstrasse 6
4009 Basel
Schweiz
Lessons
Provisorium Letzi
St. Alban-Vorstadt 95
4052 Basel
Administration
Basel, Provisorium Letzi
Provisorium Letzi
Ein Standort der Musik-Akademie Basel
St. Alban-Vorstadt 95
4052 Basel