Frank Steijns (André Rieu Orchestra) is celebrating 25 years of the city carillonneur in Heerlen, with ten anniversary concerts that do take place in August. Musical guests include the youngest carillon player in the world.

Concerts from the church tower are allowed to continue, because there is enough space in the adjacent squares in Heerlen’s city center to attend them. The public can sit safely on the terraces of the catering establishments or listen while standing from the squares: de Bongerd, Pancratiusplein and Wilhelminaplein. The 1.5 meter distance limit can be guaranteed in this way.

Today’s performance is Beethoven on Bells – Koen Van Assche, solo (city carillonneur Antwerp, Lier, Turnhout and Herentals; in connection with the Beethoven year)

This year we commemorate that Ludwig van Beethoven was born 250 years ago. Many festivals had to cancel the commemorative concerts. In Heerlen, however, Beethoven’s legacy – if we keep our distance from each other – does sound completely safe in the city center around the Pancratiuskerk.

Koen van Assche studied from the age of 14 at the Royal Carillon School Jef Denyn (International Higher Institute for Carillon Art of King Baudouin) in Mechelen, Belgium. He is city carillonneur of Antwerp, Lier, Turnhout and Herentals. He has given carillon concerts in Europe, the USA and Australia, and has won several prizes at international carillon competitions. He is also president of the World Carillon Federation.

Source : Heerlen mijn Stad Official Web Page