October 21, 2025, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Video by Ruud Elshout. Duration: 10 minutes. Emma and Milan van Waardenburg singing Phantom of the Opera. Conductor: Maurice Luttikhuis

De Telegraaf, October 21, 2025, by Richard van de Crommert Emma Kok (17) aims for grande dame status at Concertgebouw: 'One of my biggest dreams' Limburg singer shines as fairy-tale princess during solo debut "A year and a half ago, I got the idea to give my own concert, and I immediately knew where I wanted to hold it," said 17-year-old singer Emma Kok from Limburg, beginning her very first solo concert Tuesday evening at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. "It's always been one of my biggest dreams to walk down the famous Concertgebouw staircase during my own concert." She filled the evening with songs that mean something to her. That means a lot of Disney and a lot of musicals. She descended the stairs like a fairytale princess. She wore a lilac, glittery dress with a slit and a train. "I recognize myself in those princesses who are often locked up in castles and don't feel free." A grande dame reputation By performing with a symphony orchestra and large choir at the Concertgebouw, Emma Kok is aiming high and aiming for a grande dame reputation. She's certainly one in the making. "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie was the opening number for the lady of the evening, as Kok's voiceover announced. It sounded good. Instant goosebumps. But such a full-length performance must have been truly nerve-racking for her, as she experienced nerves several times throughout the rest of the performance. Nerves flared up several times during Emma Kok's solo debut. Kok presented the evening in a relaxed and heartwarming way. She recounted how she was bullied when she was younger and shortly afterwards asked for a standing ovation for her friend Jade (18), who is suffering from the terrible disease of cancer and has exhausted all treatment options. "She will always be in my heart," Emma said. "One day I sat down at the piano and wrote a song." What followed was a touching moment. Emma Kok (17) was unsure about love "Who wants me now? A girl with tubes attached to her body and scars on her stomach." Kok, who toured the world with André Rieu's orchestra for the past two years, presented her final calling card on Tuesday evening. Another song she wrote herself, "Scared of Love," is about the question of who would want a sick girl who can't eat as a partner. For years, she was afraid of love. "That fear will never completely go away," she said, although she has gained some experience since then. Inviting April Darby as a guest artist was an extraordinary act. She is undeniably a vocal powerhouse and sang the classic "I Will Always Love You" at the Concertgebouw, a song she previously sang brilliantly in the musical The Bodyguard. It was a highlight of the evening. Enzo Kok Kok struck a chord with John Lennon's "Imagine," a song she performed with violinist Enzo Kok (23), her brother, the other musical prodigy in the Kok family. It was followed by a sugary-sweet version of "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio. She delivered a truly impressive performance of her biggest hit, "Voilà." Earlier this month, the song reached an impressive 100 million views on YouTube. Eurovision Song Contest Kok demonstrated on Tuesday evening that, as far as she's concerned, we're not done with her anytime soon. Above all, she showcased her ambitions. We wouldn't be surprised to see her in various productions in the coming years. The Eurovision stage is also on her wish list. She performed the two winning songs by Swedish singer Loreen, "the queen of the Eurovision Song Contest." Vocal Depth Kok concluded with "This Is Me," the emotional power ballad from the hit film The Greatest Showman. It was one of many songs in which the choir added extra vocal depth: a resounding success. All in all, hats off to Emma Kok. She's doing it! Emma Kok will be back at the Concertgebouw on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, with this concert.

Trouw Newspaper, by Saskia Bosch October 21, 2025 Emma Kok's vocals are sometimes a bit off, but she certainly knows how to impress. The party starts for Emma Kok's fans in the hall. There, André Rieu is chatting with acquaintances. "How nice is that," two friends whisper to each other. "Just look at André Rieu!" Rieu's presence will surprise no one. After all, it was during one of his concerts that Emma Kok performed the song "Voilà," after which the song went viral. The song has now been viewed over 100 million times, and Kok is a well-known artist who can sell out the Concertgebouw two nights in a row. A few chats with concertgoers reveal that there's a considerable overlap between André Rieu fans and Emma Kok fans. Many have already seen her perform with the king of the waltz. Fred Okkers, for example, saw her at a Rieu concert in Prague and was impressed by her singing. "Such a petite woman and such a voice!" Nerves, that's okay when you're seventeen In Amsterdam, seventeen-year-old Kok demonstrates she indeed possesses an impressive voice, capable of tremendously powerful vocals but also of beautifully intimate singing. Admittedly, there are also moments when her vocal notes land in the wrong place, probably due to nerves. But that's okay when you're seventeen. Besides her singing, it's also Kok's story that resonates with concertgoers. The story of a young woman who, despite suffering from chronic gastric paralysis, dares to dream big. And who makes those dreams come true. Young fan Nova Harrell, who came to the concert with her grandmother Peggy, is very impressed by the fact that Kok can sing so beautifully despite her illness. "I just think she's really cool." During the show, the life story of the Limburg singer is also given ample attention between songs. Dressed in a lilac, glittery dress, she smoothly guides her audience through the highs and lows of her life like a seasoned veteran. The most memorable anecdote is her realization that there was no point in changing schools to escape the bullies. "Because at another school, I'd still be bullied. I'd still be that girl who was different, who was ill." Huge leaps in atmosphere and emotion Kok references her illness in her own songs. For example, "Scared of Love" is about the fear that no one will be able to love a girl who is connected to a feeding tube 22 hours a day. Kok sings the song with great feeling, making it one of the most moving moments of the evening. Since she only has three original songs in her repertoire, Kok performs a colorful mix of well-known musical numbers and pop songs in Amsterdam. These are songs that the singer has embraced, but the variety of genres forces the listener to make huge leaps in atmosphere and emotion. From John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Imagine," we move on to Loreen's "Euphoria," and from songs from the musicals Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera, we arrive at the duet "When You Believe" by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Kok sings that final number with April Darby, showcasing the two singers truly letting loose together. A little later, Darby also delivers a solo performance of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" to an absolute vocal high. Kok closes the performance with "This Is Me." And when she belts out this phrase again at the top of the Concertgebouw stairs, it sounds like a justified cry of triumph.

André Rieu and Pierre in the audience (VIP balcony). Who are the two youngsters next to André? We recognize Claus Casimir and Eloise van Oranje, members of the royal family. (Son and daughter of the King’s brother: Prince Constantijn).

After the concert, two interviews on Dutch TV, by SBS 6. Emma was tired but happy and Andr é was very proud to see that Emma can organize her own concert.

October 21, 2025 L1 news, by Jo Cortenraedt Proud André Rieu at Emma Kok's first solo concert in the Concertgebouw Emma Kok gave her first sold-out solo concert at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam on Tuesday, October 21st 2025, in the presence of André Rieu and Governor Emile Roemer, among others. The Kerkrade-born singer has become internationally known for her performances at André Rieu concerts. With the Christmas concerts at MECC Maastricht, this will come to an end for now. Emma Kok wants to continue as a solo artist. With a large orchestra led by conductor Maurice Luttikhuis, an extensive choir, and guest appearances by musical stars April Darby and Milan van Waardenburg, she put on a show. And even though she experienced "healthy tension" as she descended the famous stairs of the Concertgebouw's Main Hall, the concert went well. Extremes With a program lasting over an hour and a half, interrupted by an intermission, Emma Kok had to push herself physically to the limit, as she performed without the tubes she normally wears 22 hours a day due to her gastric paralysis. The Limburg talent had created the evening's program entirely on her own. "I didn't have to help with that," said André Rieu, who was in attendance. "I'm very proud of how she does it." She opened with "Tomorrow" and ended with "This is me." It was striking how easily Emma Kok tied the evening together with personal lyrics. "Tonight, I want you to get to know not only Emma Kok, but also Emma, the girl who also has to deal with her setbacks." She talked about her illness and the bullying she faced at school. But thanks to music, she found positivity in life. She sang some songs with Milan van Waardenburg and April Darby (musical celebrities) as if she had never done anything else. She also dedicated a self-written song to her friend Jade, who was in the audience. She is terminally ill. Whitney Houston "I'm so happy I can be here," van Waardenburg said afterward. He is currently the biggest male musical star in the Netherlands and also has roots in Limburg. "Emma has a remarkable voice. In a few years, we won't see her anymore; she'll probably be in America and become the new Whitney Houston." Actor Huub Stapel had called Emma earlier in the day to offer her extra encouragement. "I told her that the whole audience is definitely happy for her. When you see how she performed, it's almost bizarre at that age. She sings like a nightingale; I literally got goosebumps." Governor Emile Roemer had also traveled to Amsterdam. He made no secret of his enthusiasm. "This is actually impossible. She is 17, and she is completely crushing this audience. I'm incredibly happy for her." Immediately afterwards, Emma Kok was overjoyed. And tired? "I don't feel that way now, I'm still completely pumped up with adrenaline, but it was fantastic, I'm very happy." Rieu concluded: "During the concert, I felt like a coach who has to let go of his student; I was more nervous than she was. She's going to make it big."

Above: Emma’s brother Enzo Kok, violinist. Below: After the concert: Emma with her parents and her friend.

April Darby and Milan van Waardenburg

Most photos on this page are made by Ruud and Ineke, who attended the concert. The evening was a big surprise. We loved the variety of the repertoire very much. Emma was amazing. We wish her a fantastic future. The purple gown for Emma Kok's solo debut was created by André Rieu's wardrobe manager, Gosia Tarnowski. Emma's hair was styled by André Rieu's hair stylist, Pieter Roodhorst. Enzo Kok and Vincenzo Viola performed as part of the symphony orchestra.

October 22, 2025, De Limburger, by Ivar Hoekstra Emma Kok, at hurricane strength, shows the Concertgebouw she's ready for a solo career: 'Every note is flawless, unprecedented' It's every Dutch artist's dream: performing at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. Emma Kok performed on Tuesday and Wednesday evening and herself called it "totally bizarre" that she's allowed to perform there. The enraptured audience was especially impressed by a young woman who also captivates everyone solo. "Every note she plays is flawless, it's truly phenomenal." It's quite strange. You're known worldwide, have surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube, and yet it feels like you're only taken seriously in your own country when you give your first major solo concert in the capital. While most national newspapers have left the Emma Kok phenomenon to Shownieuws, RTL Boulevard, the gossip columns, and the regional press in Limburg, now that she's performing at the Concertgebouw for two nights, every newspaper will feature a detailed profile in an attempt to explain the phenomenon. A phenomenon that, even after a hundred million views, apparently still needs an introduction outside this province. "Is she from Limburg too?" a reporter from another national newspaper asks in surprise when Kok introduces guest artist Milan van Waardenburg as a fellow Limburger halfway through the concert. Disney Not knowing that Emma Kok is from Limburg fits in somewhat with the disdain of the Randstad. Only when an artist leaves Kerkrade and Maastricht's Vrijthof square for the capital does he or she apparently count, and it seems like you have to take some kind of exam: is this girl really as good as everyone says? For Kok herself, nothing feels like an exam. No trace of insecurity is visible as she descends the magical Concertgebouw staircase in a Disney-esque dress. The comparison with Cinderella is looming. Because just like Cinderella, Kok had to overcome a lot to finally be able to descend the stairs in glass slippers: "I recognize myself in those princesses who are often locked in a castle and don't feel free." That she, as a 17-year-old, can now sing "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie to a sold-out Concertgebouw must feel like a reckoning with that terrible past, where illness and bullying dominated her life. She is very open about it this evening in Amsterdam as well. "I want to take you on a journey tonight, a journey through my life." Therapeutic Session That's why the first part feels a bit like a therapy session, with the audience listening as psychologists and Emma reclining on the couch. But with a few quips and the occasional charming Limburgish expression, her life story isn't overly heavy-handed, and each song gets a fitting introduction. So she sings "Warrior," in which she proved her fighting spirit on The Voice Kids and reached the finals. Kok alternates her own songs with classics from the Disney and musical repertoire. This is partly because she doesn't (yet) have enough of her own songs, and partly because her voice is perfectly suited to the more theatrical genre. In songs like "Defying Gravity" from the musical Wicked and the Eurovision song “Euphoria” by Loreen, it's striking how enormous her range is. Emma Kok's voice has the power of a hurricane, capable of even blowing down the Westertoren (Western Tower in Amsterdam). She shifts just as easily from hurricane force to subdued and intimate, as in one of his disco-bubble- stripped versions of ABBA's “Dancing Queen” and her self-written song “Jade” for her best friend Jade, who is suffering from cancer and has completed treatment, and is in the audience. "Can I have a standing ovation for Jade?" she asks in one of the many goosebump-inducing moments this evening.

Phil Bee: Photo by Marcel van Hoorn. 2024.

Photo by Phil Bee (FB), view from the VIP balcony

Photos above: Aldo Allessie

To go to Emma Kok, page 3, Click HERE.

Photo: Marcel van Hoorn