Highlights of Emma’s 2014 include graduating from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague with a Master’s in composition, singing with the Dutch Royal Navy (Marinierskapel), and premiering a play in Karlsruhe.

It has been a diverse year for Emma’s singing, including performances in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, an open air concert accompanied by the Leiden Carillon (city bells), and more standard oratorio and solo concerts. She also made a demo recording, which can be heard here.

In addition, Emma participated in several charity concerts, for example at the Ronald MacDonald Business Breakfast and with the Salvation Army, not to mention ongoing plans with Help for Heroes to sing at their recovery centres.

2015 is already set to be a busy year, both for singing and composition. Emma is currently working on several commissions, including one from De Sweelinckcantorij in Amsterdam. A studio recording of her Easter Anthem, Resurrexi, is planned at KlankTank for early spring. Later in the year, she will record a solo CD.

On 4^th and 5^th December, 2014, Emma Brown will star in the première of Philip Lowe’s new play “Grüße aus dem Schützengraben” (Greetings from the Trench). This one-act play in English and German explores the relationship between two soldiers who met at the Christmas Truce in 1914. Set in a television studio in 1962, the poet soldier Frank Philips and his daughter Madeleine discuss the correspondence and poetry of the two soldiers, and through this their story unfolds.

For more information, click here.

On 18th October, Emma will perform at the Nacht van de Geschiedenis (Night of History) at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. This prestigious, annual event promotes historical research and arts with a historical theme. Emma will sing as the soloist in Ravel’s Trois Beaux Oiseaux du Paradis, together with the Pancras Consort.
This year, Nacht van de Geschiedenis has the theme ‘Friend and Foe.’ De Buuren has organised an event called ‘Grote Woorden,’ which includes lectures and poetry readings by Maud Vanhauwaert, as well as the performances of Trois Beaux Oiseaux du Paradis. These will take place in the library of the Rijksmuseum.

For more information and bookings, see here.

Emma will be singing at the 3^rd October Festival in the Dutch city of Leiden. She will perform Gounod’s Sanctus from the Messe Solennelle de Sainte-Cécile, together with the Marine Band of the Dutch Royal Navy and the Leidse Cantorij, at the formal memorial service.

On 3^rd October each year, the Dutch city of Leiden celebrates its liberation from the Spanish in 1574. Legend has it that, after the Spanish had left, an orphan boy called Cornelis Joppenszoon found a pot of stew (‘hutspot’) in their camp, which he took back to the city and shared. To mark this, the city council gives out hutspot to Leiden residents, as well as herring sandwiches.

The city is closed to traffic, fairground rides and market stalls spring up, and there is a carnival-like atmosphere. Several formal parades take place, as well as community singing of traditional Leiden songs in one of the city’s parks. The memorial service at which Emma will sing is the most formal event, with the local dignitaries present. It is held in St. Peter’s church, at 10:00 on 3rd October. Emma is delighted to be taking part.

Recital with carillon

Leiden City Hall Square

Tuesday, 2^nd September, 18:00

On Tuesday, 2^nd September, at 18:00, Emma will give a recital from the square outside the Leiden City Hall. This concert has an unusual twist, for she will be accompanied by the carillon (city bells) in the clock tower, played by carillonneurs Levina Pors and Henk Veldman. The local press has advertised this event thus: “Mezzo-soprano takes on City Hall carillon.”

The City Hall carillon is no small opponent. It has 49 bells, the heaviest weighing 5,500 kg. It can be heard across the whole city, chiming a different tune every quarter hour during the day. It is a much-loved icon of the city of Leiden.

Emma’s recital is the first time the carillon that will be used to accompany a singer in a solo recital. This is a high-profile public experiment to show the possibility of using the carillon as an accompanying instrument. The repertoire is therefore broad, including Bach, Handel, Hahn, Grieg, and some musical theatre.

The concert is organised by the Leids Carillon Genootschap together with the city council.

On Thursday, 12^th June, Emma gave her final presentation for her Master’s course at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. This was a full-length concert of her church-music compositions spanning the liturgical year from Advent to Trinity.

Emma worked together with the Pancras Consort, with conductor Hans Brons, organist Geerten van de Wetering, and trumpeter Leonard Evers. She sang three songs herself with pianist Isolde Troost.

The concert took place in the Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden. The church was filled with visitors, not just from Holland the the UK, but also from Germany, Belgium, and France. The Mayor of Leiden was also present.

It was a very special event. The concert took the form of a journey through the liturgical year, so the changing seasons of the church year were experienced in one evening. There were vibrant pieces with flamboyant organ accompaniment, intimate, a capella compositions, and a surprise trumpet solo. All in all the evening included eight premières: two songs and six choral pieces.

As well as the final presentation, Emma submitted a portfolio of compositions to the conservatoire, a thesis entitled “Music and Religious Experience: Developing a Theological Approach to Composition,” and was examined in several subjects. She was delighted to have been awarded a 9 (excellent) for her Master of Music.

For more information, click here.