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On Sunday, December 14, it’s time for the annual Christmas concert of Muziekschool Diemen! This coming Sunday, our students will showcase what they have been working on over the past months. Young and old, beginners and advanced players, together and solo – everyone contributes to a festive program full of music and joy. The past months have been filled with practice, and you will hear the results in a varied program. Of course, some well-known Christmas hits will not be missing. For this special occasion, we have also put together a small orchestra in which students and teachers perform together with atmospheric Christmas songs. Two parts The Christmas concert will take place in the hall of De Omval in Diemen and consists of two parts: First part: starts at 3:00 PM Second part: starts at 4:30 PM Come and enjoy a warm musical afternoon and be surprised by the versatility of our students and teachers.

Sammy Huijts – Guitar Teacher at Muziekschool Diemen I graduated from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2020 and have been teaching guitar at Muziekschool Diemen since this season. My lessons focus on the joy of playing, with attention to technique, musical development, and your personal style. Whether you’re just starting out or already have experience, we’ll work together on the music that inspires you. Alongside teaching, I perform as a guitarist in a variety of projects. I have played—and continue to play—in bands such as City Park, Benjamin Fro, Maddy Moreah, and Earl Elliot. I’m also part of the music and dance collective that created GROOVE, a multidisciplinary performance where music and movement come together. From pop and indie to soul, from funky grooves to intimate singer-songwriter tunes, I’d love to help you discover your own musical voice. Feel free to drop by for a trial lesson!

Muziekschool Diemen is proud to announce that our violin teacher, Gabriëlle Butler, has successfully taken part in the popular TV program Het MAX Orkest on Dutch broadcaster Omroep MAX. During the exciting audition round, Gabriëlle impressed the jury and earned a coveted seat in the orchestra. Hosted by well-known Dutch entertainer André van Duin, the show is a music talent competition created especially for performers aged 50 and older. Out of hundreds of applicants, only 23 seats were available: 20 for instrumentalists and 3 for vocalists. Contestants—ranging from former professionals to passionate amateurs—compete to form a unique pop-symphonic orchestra. The orchestra is conducted by Maurice Luttikhuis, with Francis van Broekhuizen and Ruben Hein on the jury. The program has been airing on NPO 1 since August 3 and can also be watched on NPO Start. Gabriëlle Butler is no stranger to the music world. After finishing high school, she earned diplomas at the Conservatory of Enschede (studying with Jaap van Zweden) and the Conservatory of Utrecht (with Viktor Liberman). She has performed with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2019, she has been part of Muziekschool Diemen, where she teaches violin with passion and mentors young talents on their path toward conservatory studies. Remarkably, Gabriëlle’s participation began with a student’s encouragement. “I love making music together, so I thought: I’ll give it a try,” she explains. Despite a difficult period in 2014, when she suffered a neck fracture, Gabriëlle never lost her love of music. Her perseverance and talent have now led to this wonderful achievement. Het MAX Orkest will continue to air on NPO 1 for several more weeks. We warmly invite everyone to follow Gabriëlle’s musical journey and join us in celebrating this remarkable accomplishment.

Muziekschool Diemen wishes everyone a wonderful 2025! We traditionally closed 2024 with a festive Christmas concert. Are you curious about our next concert? Mark the Summer Concert on June 28th in your calendar! Join us on May 25th for our Open House from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and discover what Muziekschool Diemen has to offer. Following that, at 3:00 PM, we have the teachers' concert, a unique opportunity to see our teachers perform. We look forward to starting a musical 2025 together with you!