A Message from the Conductor

« If that is Europe, then I am part of it! »

These few words, spoken spontaneously at the end of one of our concerts by an audience member, summarises the ‘raison d'être’ of the European Union Choir.

In one phrase, the unknown lady confirmed to me that we are achieving the aim to which we have been striving since our foundation in 1958: to be the ambassadors of the European message, to carry it and disseminate it across the world through music.

It has been over thirty five years since I was given the honour to conduct the Choir, to assist and guide the members in their great European musical journey.

« Beyond its political construction, I am totally convinced that Europe in essense is a poetic undertaking. Only poets can dream to such a utopian level.
We aim to reveal this poetry to our audiences through our modest contribution. »

And today I can truly say: I am delighted to be the conductor of the Choir.

I am delighted because, after a long musical career, my joy in conducting the choristers from many countries, united by their passion for music, remains intact.

Delighted, because the moments of sharing and friendship are priceless gifts that are common experiences for each of us in our lives.

Delighted finally since being in an ensemble we advance further each day toward a higher level of musical quality providing the greatest emotional satisfaction.

These very moving moments are shared by the singers when their mixed voices approach musical perfection, by me as their conductor and by the audience with whom we share this emotion.

This emotion always takes me by surprise, as fresh as the first time I experienced it. It is a source of immense delight.

After many years I have come to the conclusion that music is the highest of arts and absolutely necessary for our well-being. Music of itself is not enough, if it does not have meaning and if it is not motivated by a deep moral ambition to attain an ideal.

This is how our musical endeavours reflect those of the founding fathers of Europe. Over and above the political construction I am totally convinced that Europe in essence is a poetic undertaking. Only poets can dream to such an utopian level. We aim to reveal this poetry to our audiences through our modest contribution.

Dirk De Moor
Artistic Director and Conductor of the European Union Choir

Dirk De Moor

Dirk De Moor has been the musical director of the EU Choir since September 1990.

Born into a family of artists in Antwerp, Dirk De Moor sang from an early age in the chorale du Collège St-Pierre in Uccle (Brussels). After attending the Music Academy at Uccle and Saint-Gilles he joined the Royal Music Conservatoire of Brussels where he studied choral conducting and singing with Nicole Welbès.

Between 1979 and 1985 he was a member of the RTBF and BRTN vocal ensembles as well as the Chœurs de l'Opéra Royal de la Monnaie. Since 1971 hea has directed a dozen mixed and male choirs. In 1974, he founded Le Petit Orgue, an ensemble of twelve male singers which he conducted until 1994.

In 1983, this ensemble won the First Prize at the 20th Rencontres Chorales Internationales de Montreux. The ensemble also explored the vast range of male vocal music from the Middle Ages to contemporary composers, specialising in the interpretation of Schubert and the classical repertoire. Il a aussi exploré le vaste domaine vocal masculin, du Moyen Age aux compositeurs contemporains, et s'est spécialisé dans l'interprétation de Schubert et du répertoire orthodoxe. It performed 450 times in Belgium and abroad and recorded six discs.

Dirk De Moor conducted the Male Voice Ensemble at La Monnaie for a recital in 1987 and led 600 choristers at the Fêtes de la Musique in Bruxelles in June 1988. From 1986 to 1997, he directed the Male Voice Ensemble of the Grand Synagogue of Brussels (e.g. for a recital with Joseph Malovany, cantor at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue, New York). Thanks to the specific and rich repertoire , this professional quartet has maintained the 80 important holy days and religious ceremonies which mark the Israeli liturgy.

Dirk De Moor is also tutors a number of students in choral singing. He is a member of many national and international juries: Schubert Competition in Vienna, Rencontres Chorales Internationales de Montreux, ...