A Message from the Conductor
‘If that is Europe, then I am part of it!’
These few words, spoken spontaneously at the end of one of our concerts by an audience member, summarises the ‘raison d’etre’ of the European Union Choir. In one phrase, the unknown lady confirmed to me that we are achieving the aim to which we have been striving since our foundation in 1958: to be the ambassadors of the European message, to carry it and disseminate it across the world through music. |
"Beyond its political construction I am totally convinced that Europe in essence is a poetic undertaking. Only poets can dream to such an utopian level. We aim to reveal this poetry to our audiences through our modest contribution" |
It is now twenty-three years since I was given the honour to conduct the Choir, to assist and guide the members in their great European musical journey.
And today I can say: I am delighted to be the conductor of the Choir.
I am delighted because, after a long musical career, my joy in conducting the choristers from many countries, united by their passion for music, remains intact. Delighted, because the moments of sharing and friendship are priceless gifts that are common experiences for each of us in our lives. Delighted finally since being in an ensemble we advance further each day toward a higher level of musical quality providing the greatest emotional satisfaction.
These very moving moments are shared by the singers when their mixed voices approach musical perfection, by me as their conductor and by the audience with whom we share this emotion.
This emotion always takes me by surprise, as fresh as the first time I experienced it. It is a source of immense delight.
After many years I have come to the conclusion that music is the highest of arts and absolutely necessary for our well-being. Music of itself is not enough, if it does not have meaning and if it is not motivated by a deep moral ambition to attain an ideal.
This is how our musical endeavours reflect those of the founding fathers of Europe. Over and above the political construction I am totally convinced that Europe in essence is a poetic undertaking. Only poets can dream to such an utopian level. We aim to reveal this poetry to our audiences through our modest contribution.
Dirk De Moor, Artistic Director and Conductor of the European Union Choir.
And today I can say: I am delighted to be the conductor of the Choir.
I am delighted because, after a long musical career, my joy in conducting the choristers from many countries, united by their passion for music, remains intact. Delighted, because the moments of sharing and friendship are priceless gifts that are common experiences for each of us in our lives. Delighted finally since being in an ensemble we advance further each day toward a higher level of musical quality providing the greatest emotional satisfaction.
These very moving moments are shared by the singers when their mixed voices approach musical perfection, by me as their conductor and by the audience with whom we share this emotion.
This emotion always takes me by surprise, as fresh as the first time I experienced it. It is a source of immense delight.
After many years I have come to the conclusion that music is the highest of arts and absolutely necessary for our well-being. Music of itself is not enough, if it does not have meaning and if it is not motivated by a deep moral ambition to attain an ideal.
This is how our musical endeavours reflect those of the founding fathers of Europe. Over and above the political construction I am totally convinced that Europe in essence is a poetic undertaking. Only poets can dream to such an utopian level. We aim to reveal this poetry to our audiences through our modest contribution.
Dirk De Moor, Artistic Director and Conductor of the European Union Choir.
Biography of Dirk De Moor - Artistic director and Conductor of the European Union Choir
Born in Antwerp into a family of artists, his father, Bob De Moor, was a cartoonist and was the righthand man of Hergé, at a very young age, Dirk De Moor fell into the magic potion of choral singing. At eight years old, he drew the attention of the Abbot Caron and he joined the Choir of the St-Pierre College in Uccle ((Brussels), the Belgian equivalent of the "Petits Chanteurs à la Crois-de-Boix". It was a revelation. Contaminated for life, he attended the Uccle and Saint- Gilles (Brussels) and then entered the Royal Music Conservatory of Brussels where he studied choral conducting and singing with Nicole Welbès.
Between 1979 and 1985 he was member of the French-speaking Belgian Radio Television (RTBF) and the Flemish-speaking Belgian Radio and Television (BRTN) vocal ensembles as well as the Choeurs de l'Opéra de la Monnaie. Since 1971 he has directed a dozen mixed and male choirs. In 1974, he founded Le Petit Orgue, an ensemble of twelve male singers that he conducted until 1994. Under his direction, Le Petit Orgue explored the vast range of male vocal music, from Middle Age to Contemporary composers and specialized in the interpretation of works by Franz Schubert and an Orthodox repertoire. It performed 450 times in Belgium and abroad and recorded six discs.
In 1987 it one first prize at the 20th Rencontres Chorales Internationales de Montreal.
In 1987 Dirk De Moor conducted the Male Voice Ensemble of La Monnaie Opera. In June 1988 he led the Fêtes de la Musique of Brussels with the participation of 600 choristers. From 1986 to 1997, he directed the Male Voice Ensemble of the Grand Synagogue of Brussels (for a recital with Joseph Malovany, cantor at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue, New York). Thanks to its specific and rich repertoire, this professional quartet has covered the 80 important holy days and religious ceremonies which mark the Hebrew liturgical year.
Dirk De Moor is also supervisor of several choral singing workshops. He is a member of national and international juries: Schubert Competition, Vienna, Rencontres Chorales Internationales, Montreal.......
Whilst devoting his life to music, Dirk De Moor is nevertheless driven by a humanist ideal and a deep European conviction. in
1990, when Dirk De Moor became the musical Director of the European Union Choir, his musical convictions and his musical vocation came together.
With his fiery character, he has never ceased to transmit to the choristers both his passion and the high standard necessary for a musical programme of high quality. His efforts and his commitment bear their fruit.
With him, the European Union Choir implement their change into an musical ensemble of very high quality, exploring an ambitious and often unknown musical repertoire and multiplying cooperations with other professional ensembles.
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