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Koninklijke Harmonie Sint Cecilia Schelle
HISTORY OF THE BAND
In 2012 the Koninklijke Harmonie Sint Cecilia Schelle is celebrating its 175th anniversary with a great variety of events.
When the Association was founded in 1837 the world was very different. Back then Belgium was a recently founded country, having existed for only 7 years. The light bulb and the telephone were yet to be invented and there were no motor vehicles in the streets. In those times not only did an orchestra play together, but its members also had to live together. When the orchestra met there was laughter and fun, but there were also tears when necessary.
Times have changed and the world has become a small village, but the Association continues. Currently we have a young and dynamic orchestra that welcomes and respects tradition but also projects a fresh and modern image. Many of these young people are working in what will be the orchestra of the future. All this is more than sufficient reason to celebrate our anniversary and a concert tour is the perfect way to do so. After a highly successful concert tour in China in 2010, we have now decided to visit Spain, a country with a long and rich cultural and musical history. Our destination is Valencia, the host of the internationally renowned Contest. We will travel there to perform a varied program to celebrate our anniversary in style, respecting tradition but also paying close attention to detail and quality. We also plan to offer a playful and spontaneous tone as well as a giving a nod to Spanish music. We will celebrate our anniversary in Spain, in the hot summer of 2012.
For more than 10 years, the Koninklijke Harmonie Sint Cecilia de Schelle has been the only Symphony Band in the province of Antwerp participating in the highest concert division, the Superior Division, in which it has received high marks in the various national contests and competitions in which it has taken part.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR
Dirk De Caluwe
Dirk De Caluwe was born in Lokeren, Belgium. He studied at the Conservatories of Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels, where he received his degree cum laude before continuing his training in master classes abroad.
He has extensive orchestral experience as a piccolo flute soloist.
He has been a member of the orchestra of the Flanders Opera in Antwerp and the Flemish Radio Orchestra, which today is the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra.
As an orchestral musician, soloist, director, and in connection with chamber music, he has worked on a total of 80 CD recordings.
In 1992 he began teaching Orchestra Direction at the Antwerp Conservatory.
In 1995 he made his debut as a director, leading the Brussels Festival Orchestra, with which he performs every year in opera concerts with a broad repertoire.
He is one of the few Belgian directors who have conducted the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has directed famous soloists such as Walter Boeykens, Robert Groslot, Hans Peter Janssens, An Lauwereins, Toots Thielemans, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, José Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Sting and Joe Cocker.
In 2001 he directed the premier of the Dutch version of the musical "Kuifje" by Dirk Brossé (and in 2002 he also directed the French version), the most successful Belgian musical of all time.
In 2002, Dirk De Caluwé also directed the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2003 he made his debut as a guest director of the Flemish Radio Orchestra and in the chapel of the Netherlands Royal Air Force.
From 1987 to 2007 he was the Director of the Ste-Cecilia Zele National Symphony Orchestra.
In his 20 years as director of this "Superior" orchestra, it became one of the most renowned music associations in Flanders. |
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