2020: VU-Koor 65 years
A celebration that didn't happen
(I created that logo long ago as a joke, and then someone discovered it and used it)
A celebration that didn't happen
(I created that logo long ago as a joke, and then someone discovered it and used it)
Two failed attempts to start a choir, once under AJ de Graaf, and then Henk J Smit
A male
choir is formed to celebrate 75 years VU under Simon C Jansen
Enthusiasm to keep it going.
Becomes ~40 members. Very few women!
What we now know as ACC was called SAUL (Societas Artis Amantium
Universitatis Liberae). The choir was called SAUL-koor.
Rehearsals in the Westerkerk 17:00 Wednesdays
Rehearsals move to Keizersgrachtkerk, and then the gym of Woltjersgymnasium, 17:00 Tuesdays
Committee has 3 members
Money comes from contributions and "Civitasraad"
The conductor is paid per rehearsal, and is not an employee
New
conductor Reinhardt van
Randwijk
Choir grows to 140 on paper, 80 at rehearsals
Very strict, no coffee break during rehearsals, so that no one can slip out!
Bigger repertoire
Mostly religious works
Concert in the Concertgebouw
Concert on the radio
1964 Conductor becomes employee of VU
Koorweekend introduced
Pianist added:
VU Lustrum 1965: Johannus, then Carmina
Very formal:
1968 Kamerkoor is created as a sub-choir. To be a member, you also have to
be a member of the main choir.
Until 1988, choir members
are legally children if under 21
Rehearsals move to Goede Herderkerk
Capella Amsterdam splits off and becomes professional choir
An LP is recorded
A portable pipe organ is built for the choir (apparently still at ACC)
The choir has moved with the times and become less strict
Rehearsals move to Balletzaal Uilenstede (still Tuesdays 17:00)
SAUL changes its name to ACC
SAUL-koor renames briefly to ACC-koor and then to VU-Koor
Sam ten Velden takes over
Rehearsals still in Balletzaal
More modern repertoire
Committee is 6 people
Kamerkoor has died, but is resurrected by Sam 1976; it gets its own
committee; still double membership
1977 Sam leaves because of other commitments
Huub Kerstens takes
over
Pianist Cor de Jong 77-85
Rehearsals in Kerkzaal of main VU Building 17:00
Very Modern and NL music
Still no selection for entry
No elections for the committee
Recordings of concerts start
Concerts have free clothing choice
A Koorkrant is started for communications (continues until 1995)
Choir performs in Holland festival for 3 years
Broadcast on Radio Denmark 1982
Choir has a stall at the Uitmarkt (until amateur groups are excluded in the 90's)
1980 Kamerkoor double membership ends
Sam ten Velden
returns
Rehearsals in Kerkzaal of main building Tuesdays 17:00
20th Century music
The choir also commissions some pieces
Film Momento
1985 first celebration of a lustrum (30th); jubilee book
Promo
video, and LP as VU gift
1985 pianist Piet Hulsbos -1988
1988 pianist Abigail Lumsden - 2004
1988 Age of majority becomes 18 (from 21)
I join the choir
1990 - second celebration of lustrum, with an open podium and another jubilee book.
1993 - Open podium introduced at choir weekends
1995 - Internet, marks the end of Smoelenboek and Koorkrant
1994 and 1995 Düsseldorf
1995 Prague (also on TV)
2005 Italy (they come here, but not enough are able to go there)
2007 Normandy
Düsseldorf
Prestatiebeurs is introduced, choir shrinks
1997(?) VUKoor becomes a course of the Griffioen
1997-12 Choir sings at opening concert of Griffioen
1998-01 Rehearsals move to Griffioen, still Tuesdays 17:00
1999-09 In a (successful) attempt to retain membership, rehearsals move to Mondays 19:30. Members stay longer, quality improves.
2004-06: Abby Lumsden's last concert
2004 - 2016 Hans van Beelen new pianist
50th anniversary event: Scratch Carmina at Griffioen
Many old members of the choir turn up for the day
A Piece written for us, Lotichius - A Native
American Story
2009 Oct Sam ten Velden 25th; Double CD Best of
2012-01 Sam's final concert, Carmina Burana
As a result of world financial crisis, VU sees Griffioen as a financial risk; makes it independent.
But Griffioen sees VUKoor as a financial risk, so...
2013 - VUKoor becomes an independent foundation (and invisibly renames: VUKoor now stands for Verenigde Universiteits Koor)
2015 - Krista Audere fills in for a season
2015 - Jan Aukes leaves after 38 years membership
2016 - Pianist Hans van Beelen leaves; Jacobus den Herder starts as pianist, up to 2022
2017/8 - Takashi Mizumoto fills in for a season
2019 - Amadeus in Delamar theatre.
2020 - Covid 19 hits
A small group of hardkoor diehards keeps the choir alive with online rehearsals and lectures. One (recorded) mini-concert.
We use financial reserves to continue paying conductor and pianist.
Annemiek van der
Ven takes leave to follow a course of study.
Dody Soetanto fills in.
March: First live concert since December 2019, Verdi Requiem in Concertgebouw. Many choir members and audience get Covid as a result.
September: New pianist Jelena Popović
Annemiek van der Ven announces she won't be returning; Dody becomes new official conductor.
September - I have been a member for exactly half the choir's life
Choir's 70th anniversary in 2025
