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Interview on Dutch national television

I was recently interviewed on Dutch national television as part of the series ‘Petrus in het Land’ about my work singing for remembrance and veterans. I also sang “Danny Boy.”

uring the interview, I told the story of John Sleep, who insisted on attending the German remembrance ceremony in the Netherlands each year near to where he was shot and injured by a German tank. John believed that without reconciliation there could be no peace, and he encouraged other British War veterans to attend German remembrance ceremonies. He also supported the Monument of Tolerance.

I was grateful for the chance to share John’s ideas about the importance of remembrance and the role it can – and should – play in understanding the privilege of living in peace.

admin2024-11-09T15:52:20+02:00October 4th, 2024|

A Song for Leiden

Every year on 3^rd October, the city of Leiden, the Netherlands, celebrates her liberation from hostile forces in 1574. The traditions include community singing at dawn, shared food, a parade of local orchestras, a remembrance ceremony, and a fun fair.

This year marked 450 years of liberation, and to mark this the 3 October Vereeniging commissioned new community songs. I was delighted to be asked to composed a song about Magdalena Moens. Moens was the lover of the captain of the opposing army, and she managed to negotiate with him that his troops would not attack Leiden, and even to bring food to the starving citizens of Leiden. She is Leiden’s heroine, and sadly until recently she has not had the attention she deserved.

My song was published together with two other new songs in a new song book, and I presented the song to the public during their community rehearsal.

admin2024-11-09T15:49:08+02:00September 27th, 2024|

Commemorating the Battle of the Somme

Even though I have been visiting the Somme to sing remembrance for nearly a decade, I still feel tremendous sorrow when I see the gravestones and names of the missing. For each name and for each grave there must surely have been families and whole communities of grieving people back home.

This year, on the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme, I led the singing at the Royal British Legion’s ceremony at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, a huge monument that is lovingly in the care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. I sang at the Ulster Tower, Northern Ireland’s national war memorial, and at the memorial to the 16th Irish Division in Guillemont.

admin2024-11-09T15:46:18+02:00July 2nd, 2024|

MHM Music Festival

I was delighted to lead the finale of the international tattoo in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, which formed the closing event of the MHM youth music festival. After an intense day of competitions, the young marching bands were treated to a show by adult professional and semi-professional orchestras.

admin2024-11-09T15:43:49+02:00June 23rd, 2024|

Concert for Peace, Grangues

On 8th June I will give a concert in the beautiful Church of Our Lady in Grangues, France, together with oboist Franck le Bail. Our programme includes folksongs from the British Isles, Hildegard of Bingen, Gregorian Chant, and of course songs connected to remembrance and peace.

Saturday 8th June, L’Eglise de Notre Dame, Grangues, France
For tickets, please visit this link.

admin2024-04-10T13:25:56+02:00May 27th, 2024|

The 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

Singing for veterans is something close to my heart. I will be travelling to Normandy next week for various ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. These include British, French, and Canadian ceremonies in Caen, Colleville-Montgomery, Ranville, Bayeux, Beny sur Mer, Ver sur Mer and Grangues.

Please check my social media for stories, videos, and photographs as the week progresses.

admin2024-04-10T13:30:03+02:00May 26th, 2024|

Première – The Flying Dutchman

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Voorschoten Chamber Choir, composer Nico Philip Hovius was commissioned to write a secular oratorio based on the legend of the flying Dutchman.

I am, perhaps wickedly, delighted to be singing the role of the she-devil Luci Fer, who seduces Captain Barend Fokke into a pact which ultimately brings him disaster. It’s a beautiful composition, both fresh and accessible.

The role of Fokke will be sung by acclaimed bass Yonathan van den Brink. The Voorschotens Kamerkoor will be conducted by Nico Philipp Hovius and accompanied by the string quintet Ventus Filum and pianist Rob Nederlof.

Saturday 1st June, 20:00, Dorpskerk, Voorschoten, the Netherlands.

For tickets, please click on this link.

admin2024-04-10T13:23:34+02:00May 26th, 2024|

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