Making music together is tremendous fun and very educational. You can do that with us in one of our many ensembles! There are ensembles for different instruments, levels and compositions.
If you take an instrumental/vocal year course with us, participation in ensemble(s) is free for everyone up to 21 years of age. From 21 years of age, a reduced one fee applies if you take an instrumental/vocal year course. See our Rates for more information on costs.
Participation is on the recommendation of your own teacher. So please inquire with him/her about the possibilities ear you.
Are you following with us (yet) no instrumental/vocal year course, then there is a cost for ensemble participation. Please see our Rates. If you would like to sign up for an ensemble, please send an email to info@platform-c.nu.
NOTES. Unfortunately, participation will not be possible in all cases. In such cases we will see if there are alternatives, so that you too can start playing together with us.
Do you play harp and would like to play together (more)? This is possible, and it can be done without having to transport your harp to the Town Square each time.
Especially for adults, there is a harp ensemble led by Lotje Meijer; the harps are waiting for you in Platform C. Do you have at least 2 years of experience? Welcome! Join us and experience the joy of playing together during the short course.
> More information and registration
Accordion Ensemble 2 was created for beginning students. You play simple melodies or a bass line. Not difficult at all, but incredibly fun to do. In this ensemble you perform several times a year. For students from 12 to 17 years old.
Accordion Ensemble 1 was created for advanced students. You will be challenged to technically and rhythmically forge some more difficult accordion parts into a whole. This ensemble performs regularly and even participates in exchange programs of performances at home and abroad! For students from 17 to 35 years old.
After only one year of lessons on flute, clarinet, saxophone or trumpet, you can join Tegenwind. Tailor-made arrangements of mainly popular melodies ensure that everyone can play along. Led by Pieter Slijkoord. For students from 8 to 11 years old.
This is a mixed wind ensemble, in it you play after 2 or 3 years of lessons, age about 9 to 14. We play various styles, from musical and film to klezmer and classical. Led by Irma Bouwmeester.
If, after a career in Counterwind, you've got quite the taste and want to move on into pop with clarinet or saxophone, James Pink & the Panther Bond is the next step. The ensemble performs regularly at pre-recitals and pop nights. Led by Joao Driessen. For students from 13 to 17 years old.
The Head Group is the cream of the crop. In this ensemble you play an extensive repertoire, from early music to contemporary. Sometimes with soprano, alto, tenor and bass, other times with only low instruments. You have practiced, worked hard and achieved results. A position in the leading group is your reward. Led by Dodó Kis. For students 10 to 13 years old.
In this ensemble you will learn to play simple pieces of music together with more than 20 guitarists. Sometimes brightened up by some recorders or flutes, sometimes by percussion instruments such as xylophone, tambourine or castanets. A musical feast of the purest water. Led by master of ceremonies Marcus de Jong. For students from 8 to 10 years old.
In Guitar Ensemble 2, the bar is raised a little higher. The arrangements are more difficult, you have to focus more on technique and the rhythms are more complicated. There will be beautiful music on your desk: classical, but also exciting Spanish music and pop music. Sometimes other instruments play along. Led by Mirjam Cuijpers. For students from 8 to 16 years old.
In this ensemble, you will be ready for third gear. Serious pieces from the guitar repertoire will be studied. In addition, you will throw yourself into beautiful arrangements of folk music. A sound that will give you chills. Sometimes other instruments play along so that the timbre is varied. Led by Martin Lichters. For students from 11 years old.
Practice breeds art. This applies to every instrument and also to the piano. Playing together makes for even more fun and faster progress. That is why Platform C has five piano ensembles. After your second year of lessons, your teacher will classify you. You will play in an ensemble for four months, after which it is the other students' turn. Ensembles 1 to 4 are for third- and fourth-year students. The 5th ensemble is for fifth- and sixth-year students.
Teachers: Stephanus Harsono, Violaine Delplanque, René Lantinga
De Donderstokken - Thundering fast playing together
After a year of violin or cello lessons, children between the ages of 5 and 9 can join De Donderstokken - simply the most fun orchestra in Amstelveen! You will discover how much fun it is to make music together, by singing and imitating many songs with simple rhythms. This way you learn to play your instrument twice as fast. It soon feels like being in a real orchestra. The conductor is Leonie Stevens.
We rehearse Wednesday afternoon 2:30pm.
If you have been playing your instrument for two or three years, you may be ready for new adventure. Then this is your chance. You will play together with 40 strings: violins, cellos and often double basses. You build up more and more experience. Exciting? Yes, because the orchestra performs regularly! The conductor is Heleen Delis.
If you have been taking lessons for a while, you'll be right at home in the Second String Orchestra. Orchestra leader Imre Meijer knows better than anyone what you and the other students are capable of. He will bring out the best in you. Everyone gets the chance to shine in this orchestra, which performs several times a year during theme evenings or ensemble concerts.
This orchestra plays its own pieces and arrangements by the conductor and classical pieces from the repertoire for string orchestra. Beautifully pure and rhythmically well performed.
Of course there are performances before an audience at ensemble concerts at the school or in a church. You have already learned a lot in the other orchestras and will now continue to build on repertoire, bowing technique, sound and vibrato. We will do this with pieces for string orchestra from the classical repertoire. Occasionally we will also play pieces by heart! Passionata Strings is conducted by Mariette Landheer and Jeanny Beerkens.
Iuvenes - with a capital "i" - means "young" and add to that: ambitious! Playing in Iuvenes is a great honor and you will be asked for it. You will play at an advanced level music for string orchestra from the last four centuries. Each time you take an inspiring step further towards professional music practice. Regular masterclasses are given by well-known musicians, and besides the occasional rehearsal weekend, the string orchestra sometimes goes on tour. The orchestra is conducted by Mariette Landheer but strives to give concerts independently as well.
Het Volksmuziekensemble bestaat uit gevorderde instrumentalisten die volksmuziek uit de hele wereld spelen. Van Latijns-Amerikaanse volksmuziek tot Jiddische Klezmermuziek, van Ierse Jigs & Reels tot Oost-Europese Balkanmuziek. In het ensemble spelen blokfluiten, dwarsfluiten, klarinetten, soms ook hobo en tin whistle, violen, accordeons, gitaren en bas. Het ensemble staat onder leiding van Robert Baas. Voor leerlingen vanaf 12 jaar oud.
Ben je inmiddels een stevig door de wol geverfde saxofonist, trompettist of pianist en zeg jij Swing Is the Thing, dan ben je toe aan Big Band ‘PeeWee’s Problem’. Je speelt een repertoire van afwisselend jazz tot latin, met een vleugje ska hier, een toefje pop daar. Als er behoefte is aan vocals of extra instrumenten, worden die ergens uit de kast getrokken. Wat is dan het probleem? Dat is er niet. Big Band ‘PeeWee’s Problem’ had in twee jaar tijd meer dan 50 optredens onder leiding van Pim Wittenberns! Wie? Ah, PW. Voor leerlingen vanaf 15 jaar oud.
Na ongeveer drie jaar les kun je worden uitgenodigd voor de Slagwerkgroep. Je wordt vertrouwd gemaakt met verschillende slaginstrumenten en voert hiermee tal van ritmische nummers uit. Absolute hoogtepunten zijn je optredens tijdens popavonden en concerten, waarbij je niet gek moet staan te kijken als de hele zaal mee swingt! Tim Brink is leider van de Slagwerkgroep. Voor leerlingen vanaf 15 jaar oud.
On Thursdays at the end of the afternoon, you are welcome to sing with peers in Children's Choir Orion. We sing nice, swinging, funny, beautiful and special songs. It's very relaxing and fun. Singing together just makes you very happy! Children's Choir Orion is for children aged 6 - 12 years and is conducted by Laetitia Leemans.
Op maandag na school kun je samen met leeftijdsgenootjes zingen in het Zonnesteinkoor. We zingen leuke, swingende, grappige, mooie, vette en bijzondere liedjes. Heel ontspannend en ontzettend gezellig. Van samen zingen word je gewoon heel erg blij. Het Zonnesteinkoor is er voor kinderen tussen 6 en 12 jaar oud. Docent: Suzanne Havenga.
> Meer informatie en aanmelden.
For boys and girls from grade 8 and up, we have the youth pop choir Mix It. This choir sings in a mix of styles and a mix of hip and retro. This choir is for young people between the ages of 12 and 21. The choir is directed by Anna Sollewijn Gelpke.
Het Projectorkest Volwassenen van Platform C staat voor samen leren in een ontspannen en gezellige sfeer. Gestart in het cursusjaar 2013-2014 biedt het orkest volwassen leerlingen in het algemeen met minimaal drie jaar les de mogelijkheid om samen te spelen in een orkest. Er wordt per cursusjaar gewerkt in drie verschillende blokken van negen weken. Elk blok heeft een eigen thema. Het Projectorkest staat onder leiding van Irma Bouwmeester en Robert Baas.
> Meer informatie en aanmelden.
