BEvocaL - Belgian National Youth Choir, Benoît Giaux & Jori Klomp - By the Rivers of Belgium (2023) [Hi-Res]

BEvocaL, the Belgian national youth choir, was founded in 2017 thanks to the initiative of the choral federations of the three linguistic communities: Fédération chorale Wallonie-Bruxelles - À Cœur Joie, Koor&Stem and Musikverband Födekam Ostbelgien.
This choir wishes not only to give momentum to other amateur choirs in Belgium, but also to be an example and a source of inspiration as to the possibilities of cooperation that can exist between Belgium’s linguistic communities. BEvocaL also wants to show the extent to which choral singing and choral music can be, not only contemporary, but also a socially meaningful and forward-looking project.
Since 2021, BEvocal’s second artistic team, formed by Benoît Giaux and Jori Klomp as conductors and Liesbeth Devos as vocal coach, pursued the work that had already been initiated, with the firm intention of developing the ambitious objectives that had been established from the start, particularly as far as innovation was concerned.
Jori Klomp, choir conductor, saxophone player and singer, is currently the Conductor and Choirmaster of the Aachen Theatre. Benoît Giaux, singer, pianist and choir conductor, is the Artistic Director of the Monnaie Opera children’s and youth choirs, also in charge of the MMacademy. He teaches voice at IMEP, Namur’s conservatoire, where he conducts the chamber choir formed mainly by voice students. Liesbeth Devos combines an international career as a soloist in opera, oratorio and melody, with a clear passion for guiding young singers to develop their talent in the vocal arts.
The reinforcement of our links with the Belgian world of music and choirs, amateurs and professionals included, is a constant feature in BEvocaL’s way of functioning. The aim is to propose programmes that are both attractive and accessible to a large audience, through variety and diversity. It wishes to integrate topics of current interest that can transmit messages to the audience regarding themes such as emancipation, borders, immigration, social media, the environment, nature, crises, hope…
With this in mind, and with the help of “Sabam for Culture”, BEvocaL made a point of giving a privileged space to the creation of works, and made requests to five Belgian composers to write new compositions for choir. Sebastiaan van Steenberge, Aldo D. Platteau, Benoît Chantry, Maarten Van Ingelgem et Paul Pankert (tracks 13 to 17)
We suggested several possible approaches to the composers, such as, presenting an existing composition with which BEvocaL could elaborate an artistic experience, make an arrangement from an existing work, compose something new with a text or a story as a starting point, or meet the choir and create a free composition.
The process was conceived as a true « work in progress ». We expected all young choristers to become co-creators of (certain parts of) the presentation of the new compositions. We invited the composers to rehearsals to allow them to observe how the elements of the work were falling together. This way of proceeding allowed each chorister to become increasingly involved. The composers were able to write in a way that was perfectly adapted to the choir’s level and potential.
BEvocaL also wishes to promote Belgium’s musical and cultural legacy and that of its communities, as a model of cultural variety and complementarity. We pursue our desire to explore and deepen the Belgian choral repertoire, in order to allow audiences in Belgium and abroad to discover it and keep it alive. (tracks 1 to 12 and 18)
BEvocal wishes to support its choristers in facilitating their access to the professional world, by allowing them to be in touch with high level professionals. They are encouraged to become professionals of the choral world in turn, by learning to become conductors or choristers in established professional choirs.
Through this commitment to develop the choristers’ potential to reach high standards, BEvocal targets the stage that can be considered as the highest of a pyramid of guidance. Each young singer is given the tools to take part in an ambitious project at a national level. The base of this pyramid is simultaneously happening at a large scale thanks to the work being done in community choirs, general schools and music academies.