Hugues Navez

Hugues Navez serves as full Professor of classical guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels since 1999. He founded and directs the Brussels International Guitar Festival & Competition (2012–present) and presides over both the Classical Guitar Society of Belgium and Brussels Classical Guitar Society.

His education includes advanced training at:

• Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Lille (France) under Jean-Philippe GRUNEISSEN
• Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles with Ilse and Nicolas ALFONSO
• Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris with Alexandre LAGOYA (as his only Belgian pupil) and Carel HARMS

Navez specializes in classical guitar performance on ten-string instruments, with artistic focus spanning contemporary music theatre, early music revival, jazz pedagogy, and rhythmic theory. His programming emphasizes expressive timbre, technical virtuosity, and cross-cultural repertoire from five continents, creating profound audience connections through diverse musical narratives.

Major honors include:

• Prize-Medal of the Belgian Government (1981)
• European Prize Émile Noël for "12 European Guitar Recitals" (1988)
• Frères Darche Prize from Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles Heritage Commission (2007)
• Yehudi Menuhin Foundation recognition

As an educator, Navez founded Belgium's International Summer Academy (1993–2001) and conducts Erasmus master classes globally at institutions including Beijing Central Conservatory, Paris CNSMD, and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He mentors students through Brussels Guitar Master Classes and his conservatory professorship, shaping emerging talent across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Navez performs with ensembles including Brussels Guitar Quartet, Belgian Radio Philharmonic Orchestras (RTBF/BRT), and Momentum String Quartet, collaborating with artists like Lola Bobesco and Maxence Larrieu at major festivals from Sevilla EXPO to Caracas International Dance Festival.