National Choirs, where young voices blossom
A new chapter
On Sunday afternoon, September 28, the September Me Festival concluded with a special concert. The National Women's Youth Choir was invited by the Ragazze Quartet to perform a unique program together. From the very first moment there was a special click between the choir, the quartet and the invited musicians. The atmosphere was relaxed, the audience attentive - an afternoon in which everything seemed to fall into place.
A special feature of this concert were three new faces in the choir: Léontine, Fenna and Irene - sixteen years old, newly inducted from the National Children's Choir. In June they auditioned; after only two rehearsals they were already there, full of conviction, as new members of the women's choir, in the middle of an intense musical program.
A week after the concert, we asked Léontine and Fenna to look back on their first experience in the women's choir. Both describe it as a logical step, yet a new phase in their musical journey.
Fenna sings in the National Mixed Youth Choir and in the National Women's Youth Choir. Léontine deliberately chose the Women's Choir: she wanted to experience singing with women adult voices - more powerful, fuller, with a different color than in the children's choir. "You naturally start singing better," she says. "Your voice becomes more powerful, more flexible, full of conviction." Fenna adds, "It's no longer just about singing a beautiful piece together beautifully. It's about how your voice interweaves with the voices of others. You automatically do your best to sing at a different level."
Whereas in the children's choir, as elders, they still had a kind of role model function - helping younger singers with, for example, giving clear commitment or leading the way to the stage - that responsibility is different in the women's choir. There they can really focus on their voice as an instrument. Only two rehearsals and one concert - but for both, it felt like an important step in their vocal development.
Léontine is also considering starting in the Mixed Youth Choir to develop in other repertoire.
Developing skills
Thinking back to their early years in the children's choir, they recall the solfège exercises, which initially felt like "homework." But gradually that changed: what was first an assignment became a skill, a tool for expressing themselves musically. Even the vocal exercises - funny at first, then natural - are now part of their singing. "You suddenly notice how much difference it makes. You gain skills, you grow in your voice as well as in self-confidence. You dare to stand up and take a leading role."
But singing in the choir is not just about singing. It's also about the people. About the choir as a community. Léontine calls it a second family, and Fenna nods in agreement: "It feels familiar. You give a lot, but you also get a lot back. Not only from the other singers, but also from the team. You're already looking forward to the next study day."
Fondest memories
For Léontine, without a doubt Mahler 8 her fondest memory. Originally this was going to be her first project, but it was canceled by corona. When she practiced it, it was quite a difficult piece at the time. Instead of her first, it became her last concert with the Children's Choir: "how beautiful it was to be able to perform this piece now: standing there, in the middle of a big orchestra, between three choirs, with so much dedication and pleasure - that is the most beautiful thing there is. At that moment you don't want to be anywhere else."
Fenna reflects back with great enthusiasm on Alice in Wonderland by Unsuk Chin - a challenging and unusual piece, rehearsed under the direction of Markus Stenz. "Everything about it was different - the sounds, the atmosphere. It was the Dutch premiere, I'm glad I could do it."
And now look ahead...
In the coming months there are new highlights to look forward to: singing together with all four choirs at the concert of music by Arvo Pärt, and then a special tour to Greece. And then there is another wish that seems to be coming true: singing again in December under the direction of Iván Fischer, this time Mendelssohn.
To listen to the September Me concert:
Diary of composer Aart Strootman:
"The week ended with a concert program in which works by Bryce Dessner, Caroline Shaw, a world premiere by Calliope Tsoupaki and my own songs Naipaul's Wanderer were performed by the Ragazze Quartet, Pascal Meyer, Yung-Tuan Ku and the National Women's Youth Choir. The choir sang with moving intensity and vulnerability. Four young soloists performed my music flawlessly and with a professional precision that left my friend snickering for a while. Afterwards, I concluded with my colleague Calliope that if this may be the future of music, we can rest assured."Â
