Meetings .:. Detailed search

Group:

De Piccolo’s Choir

The Belgian town is only 15 minutes drive from the Dutch border. It’s name, Neerpelt is not unfamiliar to the Future of Europe Association since Peter Berben the president of the local European International Youth Music Festival was awarded in 2002 the prize for the Future of the Europe’s Children. Two years later in 2004, he suggested his successor Jan Coninx for the prize who received it on the closing day of the VIII. Future of Europe International Children and Youths Meeting.

The Neerpelt Festival was first organised in 1953 and year by year choirs of more and more countries have taken part. In 1955 a double festival was held, one for the choirs and one for the instrumental groups. 1964 saw the zenith of the festival series with 103 choirs from 7 countries with 5000 participants taking part. The number of participating countries has been growing ever since and by 1982 it reached 23. In 2004 Hungary was also represented with several choirs.

At the Csipero festival the Belgian choir gave two performances in the ‘Little Night Music’ programme, and achieved a great success. Their last piece was especially cheered for since it was a Hungarian folk song. The choir performed at the ceremony of the award for the Future of Europe’s Children in the Town Hall. It was a double celebration since Jan Conix received the award on the Belgian national holiday, 11 June.

2008. De Piccolo's children's choir has already participated in several European choir festivals and won various awards. They are also constant participants and an awarded choir of the European Music Festival for Youngsters in Neerpelt. After 2004, they returned again this year to participate in the children and youth meeting. Their concert was an outstanding performance enriched by a specific choreography in the "Little Night Music" programme. The Hungarian folk song "A horgosi csárda" was received by a standing ovation.

See also: Award winnres  Little night music 

Picture gallery

Participation: 2004 2008

Group:

Imago Tijl Dance ensemble

Another group from Neerpelt the Imago Theil also arrived at the Festival. Their predecessor group was founded back in 1957 only with boys. 1982 saw the first girls dancing in the group who also came to the Festival. Their vivid programme that combines classic ballet with modern dances performed in colourful costumes with ribbons earned them huge success. One of their dance pieces includes Indian movements which the dancers performed with the same elegance and airiness.

Picture gallery

Participation: 2004

Group:

Orpheus Children Choir

Bulgaria was represented by the choir ‘Orpheus’ Children’ at the VIII. Future of Europe International Children and Youths Meeting. Their performance of orthodox songs was a true speciality. The performance they gave at the ‘Little Night Music’ programme started late at night in the ruins of the old cloister which only enhanced its special atmosphere. The youngsters singing ecclesiastic songs among the ruins half-lit by torches and surrounded by all the churches of the Main Square received a warm welcome from the audience.

See also: Little night music 

Participation: 2004

Group:

Taxmen dance group

All Csiperó events had witnessed and highly-applauded, excellent performances by the Czech participants and the expectations were much justified again in 1995 by the dance band „Taxmen”.

2004 The Czech Republic has been participating in the Children’s Festival right from the beginning. After a 10 year break Krnov returned to Kecskemét. The Taxmen dance group was also a huge success on the Main Square. The group had some very young dancers, so it did not come as a surprise that one of them a little girl, as one of the youngest participants of the festival, took the key to the town on the inauguration ceremony. The youngest of the group danced in pyjamas and with chairs while the older performed modern dances.

Picture gallery

Participation: 1995 2004

Group:

Saue folk dance group

The city and the group have the same symbols: oak-leaf and acorn, highly frequent trees in the country. The group of more than 20 members indulged Kecskemét with a particular show, a dance to a Hungarian song adapted into Estonian.

2004 It is always a pleasure to welcome youngsters from towns that had already been represented at the Festival in previous years, this time Tallinn and Saue came with a combined group. The Saue Folk dance group performed Estonian, Finnish and Polish folk dances. They accompanied the pair dances and round dances with instrumental music.

See also: Award winnres 

Participation: 2002 2004