Arts and culture
A Christmas Carol Concert
- With S.M.G. “Sempre Crescendo” Carol Choir, Guido Marchena (conductor) and Jan Verschuren (organ)
- Date
- Thursday 22 December 2022
- Time
- Address
-
Academy Building
Rapenburg 73
2311 GJ Leiden - Room
- Grand Auditorium
A festive start to Christmas in the Great Auditorium at Leiden University. Specially for the University community, the S.M.G. “Sempre Crescendo” Carol Choir will sing traditional Christmas carols, both centuries old and contemporary, interspersed with atmospheric organ music. There will be the chance to sing along with three carols, and after the concert the audience is invited to enjoy a glass of mulled wine. Come along on 22 December and join in the Christmas spirit! Entrance is free! University staff and students only.
With
Conductor: Guido Marchena
Guido Marchena has been the conductor of the Leiden student orchestra and Sempre Crescendo choir since 2009. He can also be seen annually in Leiden as the conductor of 3 October Live in Concert at the Stadsgehoorzaal concert hall.
Guido completed his training at Conservatorium van Amsterdam and is the conductor of various orchestras, choirs, ensembles and projects, including his own symphony orchestra New Holland Orchestra.
With minors in piano, vocal performance and trombone, he has a broad training and focuses on a variety of genres.
Choir: S.M.G. ‘Sempre Crescendo’ Carol Choir
‘Sempre Crescendo’ Student Music Company was founded in 1831, making it one of the oldest music companies in the Netherlands.
The student orchestra and choir are led by professional conductors. Many of its members also perform in smaller ensembles, such as this Carol Choir.
Organist: Jan Verschuren
Jan Verschuren is the university organist at Leiden University and Eindhoven University of Technology and the church organist at Hartebrugkerk in Leiden.
Besides solo concerts, he performs with members of the Netherlands Chamber Choir and The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Jan regularly plays the famous Van Hagerbeer organ in Leiden’s Pieterskerk, including in 2005 during the conferral of the honorary doctorate on Queen Beatrix.