Dutch American Heritage Foundation

The 2005 DAHEF Concerts

One of the activities of the Dutch American Heritage Foundation is an annual concert by gifted young Dutch musicians. The ‘Prinses Christina Concours’ in the Netherlands carefully selected this year’s musicians. Daniël Kool, piano, Jesse Faber, clarinet, and, Steven Boume, cello, proved to be excellent musicians playing very well together as a trio. They were fun loving teenagers and very serious musicians, an ideal combination. Their musical program was very well chosen for the occasions with two short programs in Los Angeles and one full program in San Francisco.

From left to right: Jesse Faber, Daniel Kool, and Steven Bourne

The first short concert was on April 29 at the reception given by the Consul General in honor of the Queen’s birthday. The concert was attended by about 300 people, including many members of the diplomatic corps and local business people, who gave the youngsters a standing ovation in appreciation of the outstanding performance.

The three musicians were even better at the NAS party on the first of May, hosted by Bram and Cleo Benjamins, where they again received a standing ovation after completion of the beautiful program. This concert, which was followed by the traditional reception for the Queen’s birthday, was held in the Beverly Hills Women’s Club and was attended by over 100 NAS members and DAHEF friends.

Their last performance, a full program, in the St. Marks Lutheran Church in San Francisco on Liberation Day, May 5, was really outstanding and highly appreciated by the audience of about 150 people, mostly from the Dutch-American community. The beautiful church with its rich acoustics was an ideal place for such a concert. This concert, followed by a reception, was hosted by the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in San Francisco, Mr. Douglas Engmann, and was also attended by Consul General David van Iterson.

The youngsters not only played music and spent time rehearsing but also had a busy social and sightseeing program in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Highlights were attending a rehearsal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, receiving a pictorial book of Los Angeles from Elga Sharpe, representing the mayor of Los Angeles, at a luncheon in the home of Dorith and David van Iterson, and in San Francisco staying at the beautiful Victorian home dating from 1894 of Mr. and Mrs. Engmann, a visit to the Conservatory and the island of Alcatraz.

All in all it was a very successful tour and the Dutch American Heritage Foundation wishes to thank all of you who supported the events by attending and/or making a donation. We hope to be in a position to arrange a similar concert tour next year.

Dick van Hoepen