New year's concert 'Songs for the new day' at St. John's

On Sunday, January 19, at 2:30 pm, there will be a wonderful New Year's concert in the St. John's Church in Waalwijk, organized by the Friends of this unique church. That afternoon three top musicians will give a performance: Herman van Rooijen (piano), Hannie van Huijgevoort (vocals) and Bart Felet (trumpet), supported by a passionate occasional ensemble of no less than 14 singers. It will be a beautiful and above all special musical afternoon. Admission is free; you are most welcome.

Concert 'Songs for the new day
For the New Year's concert on Sunday afternoon, January 19, 2025, Herman van Rooijen (piano) and Hannie van Huijgevoort (vocals) with Bart Felet (trumpet) have put together an atmospheric musical program entitled "Songs for the new day." They sing and play works by Beethoven, Duruflé, Elgar, Hahn, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Mouret, Silcher and Wagner, among others. There will be solo singing and piano, ensemble singing with and without accompaniment, duets, trumpet playing. The program is very diverse, hopeful, joyful and tuneful! Love, wistful remembrance, prayer, praise for summer, nature, peace, the power of the arts and the resilience of man, these themes pass by musically.

Hannie van Huijgevoort and Herman van Rooijen met during a long weekend of master classes for individual singers and pianists. Since 2022 they have enjoyed studying classical songs and entire song cycles. They have performed together several times in the area where Herman works as a professional pianist. At the New Year's concert organized by the Friends of Sint Jan de Doper, they will be heard as a duo for the first time in Waalwijk. And they are not coming alone! Trumpeter Bart Felet joins them, along with a passionate occasional ensemble of singers, consisting of Ad van der Zanden, Ans Langerwerf, Bert Smits, Dory Balvers, Gabrielle Verhoeven, Hans Dingemans, Jan Geenen, Marit Karssens, Mieke van Huijgevoort, Nick de Lange, Piet Langerwerf, Theun Hoff and Wim van den Beuken. The 8 men and 6 women of the occasional ensemble sing a cappella and with piano accompaniment. The New Year's concert "Songs for the New Day" thus means a first that you should definitely come and listen and watch!

Everyone welcome
The concert has many highlights. The finest compositions by Elgar, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Purcell, Handel and Haydn, among others, will be performed. Everyone who loves music is therefore welcome January 19 in the Waalwijk Sint-Jan. As always, admission is free and a voluntary contribution will be asked for after the concert. The concert begins at 2:30 p.m. and the doors will be open for you from 2 p.m. onwards. At intermission there will be an opportunity to have a drink and catch up. On the website of the Friends of St. John (www.vriendensintjanwaalwijk.nl) you will find the concert program until summer and you can also sign up for the free e-mail newsletter.