It was carnival again this weekend in Someren. The Dutch Student Orchestra took care of that, which had settled in Someren with a reunion orchestra to celebrate its 70th anniversary. With a musical tour through the village and a traditional serenade for the mayor, the music company emphasized the bond it has had with Someren for almost twenty years.
That bond was formed when the NSO moved its final rehearsal week 19 years ago to the holiday farm De Hoof in Someren. Since then, musical students from all over the Netherlands flood the village every year. “They are completely part of it in that week and a half in Someren”, Mieke Storms knows.
The former programmer of the cultural center De Ruchte brought the orchestra to Someren at the time. “We are very happy that they give their first concert here every year”. She beams when she notes that the relatively small cultural center has thus acquired a place among the major concert halls in the Netherlands, with the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as its final destination. “It’s really nice to be on a playlist with them.”
Someren missed that premiere concert this year. Due to corona measures earlier this year, the NSO had to shorten its tour and Someren no longer fit in. “But we assume that they will be there again next year”, says Mieke hopefully. “People are asking about it, it is now part of the activity calendar in Someren. And the level is exceptionally high.”
rural tranquility
“Yes, they are very happy with us here,” says Evert van Noort. The Veldhovenaar plays bassoon and after his participation in the student orchestra took the step to go to the conservatory. “A whole world has opened up to me here.” Wouter Kuipers, physics student and percussionist, recognizes the ‘feeling of coming home’ in the recreation farm in Someren. “Yes, the rural tranquility is wonderful, especially nice after a short night,” laughs Janneke Sloggers from Bergen op Zoom, clarinetist in the orchestra.
When they serenaded on the steps of the town hall with the well-known ‘Brabant’ by Guus Meeuwis, Mayor Blok sighs with a grin: “I was only told last night that they wanted to come today, they are still students.”
The Netherlands Student Orchestra starts its tour on May 30 in the Muziekgebouw Frits Philips in Eindhoven. On Sunday the reunion orchestra will give a small concert in the De Hoof recreation farm in Someren.