AEC Council
The AEC Council represents the members of the AEC. It consists of twelve representatives from member institutions in twelve different countries: the Executive Committee (President, Secretary General and two Vice-Presidents) and 9 regular Council members (including a co-opted representative of the AEC Associate Members). The AEC Members elect these representatives for 3-year terms of office during the Association’s annual General Assembly. Council and Executive Committee members may be elected for a maximum of two terms to the same position. The AEC Council meets 3-4 times a year.
The Council is entrusted with the Association's administration including the administration of the Association's funds and other properties. It is charged with upholding the mission and character of the Association, determining its strategic direction and overseeing its financial health and solvency. Council also decides upon the admission of active and associate members. The decisions of the Council and the General Assembly are implemented by the AEC Office, which is located in Brussels (Belgium).
President
Eirik Birkeland
Former Rector, Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo, Norway
Vice-Presidents
Elisabeth Gutjahr
Rector, Mozarteum University Salzburg, Austria
Deborah Kelleher
Director, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, Ireland
Secretary General

Harrie van den Elsen
Principal, Prince Claus Conservatoire, Groningen, The Netherlands
Council members
Jeffrey Sharkey
Principal, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Ivana Perković
Professor, Department of Musicology, Faculty of Music, University of Arts, Belgrade, Serbia
Khateleen Coessens
Director and Professor Teorical Courses, Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
Ingeborg Radok Žádná
Vice-Rector for International Relations and Art Activity,Prague Academy of Performing Arts, Czech Republic
Claire Michon
International Relations Coordinator, Pôle Aliénor Poitiers-Tours, France
Lucia Di Cecca
International Relations Coordinator, Conservatorio di Musica "L. Refice", Frosinone, Italy
Zdzisław Łapinski
Head of the Cello and Double Bass Department, The Academy of Music in Krakow, Krakow, Poland
Rico Gubler
President, Musikhochschule Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
Bernard Lanskey
Co-opted Representative of AEC Associate Members
Director & Professor, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, Singapore
Miranda Harmer
Co-opted Representative of the Student WG and NetworkStudent, Leeds College of Music, UK
Eline Accoe
Co-opted Representative of the Student WG and NetworkStudent, Luca School of Arts, Belgium
Honorary Presidents
Ian Horsbrugh, Former Principal Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, UK
Johannes Johansson, Former Rector Royal College of Music, Stockholm, Sweden
The AEC is fortunate in the quality of the individuals who have served the Association as Presidents. The two most recent Presidents to complete a full double-term of office were made Honorary Presidents at the Congresses where they each stepped down – Ian Horsbrugh in 2004 and Johannes Johansson in 2010.
Sadly, both Ian and Johannes are no longer with us. Ian passed away on the 22nd July 2006 and Johannes on 30th May 2012. Their Honorary Presidencies stand in perpetuity as a symbol of the outstanding contributions they both made to the development of the AEC and of the enduring gratitude of the AEC membership for all their achievements while in office.
A commemorative text celebrating the lives and achievements of Ian can be accessed by clicking on his name.
Honorary Secretary General
George Caird, Principal Birmingham Conservatoire, UK