Cello teacher Jeanny Beerkens is the driving force behind the Passionato Strings weekend: a musical weekend away with her string orchestra Passionato Strings. It has since grown into a valuable annual tradition. We spoke to Jeanny about the latest edition.
From idea to tradition
A few years ago, shortly after the corona period, Jeanny noticed that the orchestra was getting a little smaller. "I wondered: why is that? What can we do to strengthen the group feeling?" She decided to organize something outside the regular rehearsals: a weekend away with the orchestra. "That way you get to know each other in a different way, and that also helps with playing together. Besides, it's just super fun."
Since then, the weekend has been organized several years in a row. "Every time it's special to see what it does to the children, how they grow as a group," said Dr. K. K., who is also a member of the group.
The Passionato Strings weekend in Vierhouten
This year the weekend took place in Vierhouten. On Friday evening, the leading group (the oldest students) began with their first rehearsal. "They were so enthusiastic that they continued until late in the evening," Jeanny says. A viola player from the conservatory's talent class also came along.
Saturday morning, the rest of the orchestra joined them and joint rehearsals began. That evening there was a colourful evening with performances by the children themselves: from excerpts from Bach and Les Misérables to a sleeping bag act and a performance of Bella Ciao by a double bassist and cellist.
On Sunday the weekend ended with a concert for the parents, in which the orchestra showed what they had all done that weekend. A Finnish song, with Dutch lyrics written especially for the occasion, was enthusiastically sung along by the audience. "Those are the moments that give you an enormous kick," says Jeanny. "Then you remember exactly why you're doing this."
Performance at DeLaMar and the final concert
The energy of the weekend works right into the next performance: on Sunday, June 29, the entire orchestra will be at the DeLaMar Theater at the benefit performance From passion to stage. "A great opportunity for the kids. Everyone is tremendously motivated, and really the whole orchestra participates!"
"In the meantime, we just keep rehearsing, because on July 4 is the orchestra's final concert, in the main hall of Platform C. That's when we close the season together."
