On 5th and 6th June, Emma will sing at the anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. She will be accompanied by the Band of Liberation of the Royal Regiment of Fuseliers Brigade Princess Irene under conductor Simon Dubbelaar in memorial services and concerts of nostalgic and popular songs.

On 6^th June, 1944, the Allies began the biggest seabourne invasion in history which ultimately led to their victory in the Second World War. The evening before saw a battle for Pegasus Bridge.

Emma will sing in the memorial service in Colleville-Montgomery, which will be attended by verterans, and in the service of the Royal British Legion in Bayeaux Cathedral. She will also perform during a midnight ceremony at Pegasus Bridge, and in various concerts throughout the region.

Emma is delighted to be joining the Band of Liberation for a second time, following their concert for the Liberation of Texel on 20^th May.

On 20^th May, Emma will sing as a guest soloist with the Band of Liberation of the Royal Regiment of Fuseliers Brigade Princess Irene at the celebrations of the liberation of Texel.

Texel island was the last place to be liberated from the second world war in Europe in 1945: the Canadian soldiers arrived on 20th May. This is the first year the island will hold formal celebrations.

Emma will perform military and nostalgic songs accompanied by band and pipes, with conductor Simon Dubbelaar.

On 31^st March, Emma will perform with prestigious pianist Willem Brons and the Pancras Consort (conducted by Hans Brons) in a concert of music for Holy Week. The concert includes piano music by Bach, motets by Buxtehude, Gabrielli, Kuhnau, Lotti, Mendelssohn and Nanino, and concludes with Liszt’s ‘Via Crucis’ in which Emma will sing as a soloist.

The concert is arranged by Stichting Cathedral Organ Leiden. All proceeds go towards the restoration and installation of an 1892 Father Willis Organ in the Hooglandse Kerk.

The concert takes place in the Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden, beginning at 20:15.

Tickets (€15) are available on the door.

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.