Farewell concert conductor Johan Smeulders

St Caecilia's wind orchestra bids farewell to its conductor Johan Smeulders. The conductor will be put in the limelight with a farewell concert. After the concert, it is time for a party as the association honours its jubilees.

On Sunday, the orchestra looks back musically at the time Johan was at the podium. Various highlights from the period pass in review. Music that symbolises beautiful concerts, impressive moments or the musical DNA of the association. Smeulders has led the orchestra since May 2017 and is known as an enthusiastic and inspired conductor. He always tried to get the best out of the orchestra, looking for the emotion behind the music or just the technical finesse in an unfamiliar style of music. Under Smeulders' leadership, the orchestra grew, in size to almost eighty musicians and in sound. Recent highlight was the impressive liberation concert in a packed St Servatius Church. The Nederpopedition of Sounds of Caecilia is also telling. Johan was always willing to think beyond the musical programme; artistic interpretation was also a high priority.

After the concert, attention shifts to another important moment. The focus moves from the departing Smeulders to jubilant harmony members. Derek and Niels Dirven (40), Ruud Huijbers and Michiel Swinkels (25) and Jeffrey van den Biggelaar (50) together account for 155 years of membership. Loyal members are very valuable to the music society and therefore they are extensively put in the limelight.