Mastering music notation is not a requirement
“Sometimes people also think that the level of our choir is too high for them, but they don’t have to be afraid of that,” says secretary Gerrit Hofkamp. “I think most of our choir can’t read music. By that I mean: everything can be learned.”
More attempts have been made to recruit new members. For example, workshops have been held with famous singers. “New people certainly came to that, but these people more often did not stay,” says chairman Kok. “The younger generation seems to struggle with a weekly obligation.”
‘Vibrating sounds make stiffness disappear’
“It’s a shame, though. People don’t realize how much camaraderie and pleasure you get in return,” says Jan Beekhof, one of the members. He celebrated his sixtieth anniversary with the choir last Monday.
“If you don’t die and you keep singing, you will make it to sixty years,” said a sober Beekhof. “And I’m still looking forward to singing every Monday. It keeps me young.” According to him, singing also kept him on the track after a rough patch.
According to conductor Carina Vinke, singing is also very healthy for you. “All those vibrations in your body, that makes the stiffness disappear and makes you happy.”
Only men wanted
If the choir wants to continue after October, at least thirty members must be added. “That number is necessary so that we can continue to pay the charges,” explains Kok.
Only men are allowed to sign up, women are not. “We are certainly not against women,” laughs Secretary Hofkamp. “It was only created like this seventy years ago and that’s why the choir has a certain sound.”
The choir practices every Monday afternoon in the village hall ‘t Schienvat in Erica. “But we want to make evening rehearsals of it,” says Hofkamp. “We understand that younger people have daytime obligations.”