Bratislava Music Agency
Záhumenská 3/A
841 06 Bratislava 4
Slovakia
G.S.M.G. Bragi is the biggest and oldest student music association in Groningen, The Netherlands. It was established in 1882 and celebrates its 135th birthday this year. Bragi consists of a symphonic orchestra, a grand choir and an a cappella choir. In total, there are over 100 enthusiastic students making music together. Every week the orchestra and choirs rehearse and afterwards there is time to get to know each other. Bragi gives several concerts throughout the year, performing in churches in and around Groningen. Once every two years, the members of Bragi go on a tour to cities in Europe to give concerts and learn about other cultures. By making music in an international environment, the members are challenged and inspired to make music together with musicians from all over the world. The grand choir is the oldest ensemble of Bragi. It has 50 singers, and together with the symphonic orchestra it performs several times per year. The programme the grand choir sings is diverse. It has performed pieces like the Requiem of Mozart, the ending of Beethovens 9th Symphonie and the Weihnachtsoratorium of Bach, but also music like the Magnificat of Rutter. Since 2008, Jeroen Helder is the conductor of the grand choir.
Jeroen Helder started his music career at 6 years old with violin lessons and singing in the child choir of the school of music in Groningen. When he was 11, he began following piano lessons. At the conservatoria of Utrecht and Zwolle he completed education in piano, choir conducting and classical solo singing. Besides, he learned more about orchestra conducting from Wim Bredenhorst, Tilo Lehmann and Ernst van Tiel. Jeroen is currently conductor of G.S.M.G. Bragi from Groningen, the business chamber choir Koorbusiness from the province Friesland, COV Immanuel from Franeker and the pop choir First Beat from Leeuwarden. He is conductor of the Filharmonisch Kamerkoor Grønn, a young ensemble which is specialised in performing new music that hasn’t been heard before in The Netherlands for an audience that would normally not hear it. With this choir, he gave successful concerts with (world)premieres. Earlier, Jeroen was conductor of the wind ensemble Octa Musica and vocal ensemble Cantarix. Jeroen was choir leader of the professional chamber choir Capella Frisiae and as a singer he was associated with the Nederlandse Bach Academie and the new professional choir Provocanto. He performs regularly as a soloist.
Back to the list of ensemblesBratislava Music Agency
Záhumenská 3/A
841 06 Bratislava 4
Slovakia