Logan Lopez Gonzalez: “The MM Academy is a unique career opportunity for any singer”

A revelation. That is how Logan Lopez Gonzalez remembers his first exposure to operatic singing, performing alongside the baritone Lionel Lhote during a concert at the Academy of Music in Frameries, at just ten years of age. Fast forward to 2017 when – after several years of preparatory courses, including two at the Conservatoire – the Belgian counter-tenor auditioned and was accepted to the MM Academy at La Monnaie/De Munt in Brussels.

Bridging the gap to a professional career

The MM Academy, which was established in 2015, offers young people who have commenced their studies at the conservatory the opportunity to supplement their training with professional experience in the orchestra and chorus of the opera house. “The programme is very complementary to the conservatory programme, which mainly focuses on voice technique and theory”, Logan explains. “The MM Academy, however, prepares us for a professional career, teaching us how to audition, write a résumé or carve out a repertoire. It also gives us a unique opportunity to come into contact with professionals, working alongside them at concerts or in operas.”

Joining the MM Academy also means joining a network. “There is a genuine relationship of trust between everyone. You get to meet people, get roles in opera productions in Belgium and abroad, and you get to know each other better and discover each other’s affinities.”

Nothing but praise

Building on the experience that he acquired in his first year at La Monnaie/De Munt, Logan was invited to become an MM Soloist, before being made an MM Laureate in 2021, the highest accolade that the MM Academy awards. “This is a powerful recognition and a major step in the career of a young singer. You are officially recognised as a professional, ready to spread your wings”.

His advice to young people who are unsure about their next step? “Go for it!”, he says. “In today’s world, there is no such thing as a career that is already mapped out for you. You need to be curious and chart your own course by trying new things. An audition, as impressive as it may be, can sometimes be a game-changer.”

Supporting culture as part of our social commitment

At BNP Paribas Fortis, we are convinced that we need to go ever further when it comes to promoting culture. That is why we have been a partner of La Monnaie/De Munt for over 40 years. “The support of a bank like BNP Paribas Fortis for initiatives such as the MM Academy makes all the difference. We must continue to raise awareness that music is the fabric of our society”, Logan Lopez Gonzalez concludes.

A commitment to making culture accessible from an early age. Another example of Positive Banking.