Young flutists from twelve different countries will be in Grolloo until Sunday to learn and perform. Today the Grolloo Flute Sessions started.
That is a study week for flutists from all over the world. This year they come from Bahrain, Brazil, Costa Rica, Spain and South Africa. But not from Russia. “We have always had about four to six participants from Russia. Now we would also have Russian participants again,” says organizer Eva Kingma.
But they are not there. And that’s not from a political point of view because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “We firmly believe that music and culture should be completely separated from any kind of politics.”
It is the consequences of the war, which means that there are no participants from Russia. “The children can’t just fly over now,” explains Kingma. “Everything was made up to get them this way. That was already mapped out.”
That meant that the children have to sit in the car for 35 hours to Grolloo. “Then they have five intensive days here. And then 35 hours back,” says Kingma. “And we don’t know how the children will be received in Russia when they get back,” she continues. “We discussed it at length. We have decided not to take any risks now.” The participants are between the ages of 10 and 16.
Apart from Russians, there are also no Dutch flutists at the learning festival. “I think that’s fantastic. We are proud that we can show people from so far away, who actually all live in cities, what it is like to live in a small village like Grolloo.”
All parts are within walking distance of each other, she says. There is a part at her own home, but there are also church concerts. “They have lunch and dinner at the local restaurant. The bed and breakfast and the hotel are full. And a network of friends is willing to offer a bed for free.”
The musical week will be concluded with two concerts. These are Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August in the church in Grolloo. The concerts start at 8 p.m. on both days.