June 23, 2025, The Limburger, by Judith Kuypers Translated by Diana D. Le Photos by L1 and ARP Rieu concerts attract new choir members Mastreechter Staar Participate at the Christmas concerts of André Rieu. A call with that promise of male choir Mastreechter Staar earned thirty aspiring singers. A large number for the choir, which must pull hard to keep the number of members up to date. Although the new singers have to complete a whole journey before they are actually on stage during the Christmas concerts of André Rieu, which take place in December 2025 at the MECC in Maastricht. Hard to find men Nowadays, it is difficult to find men who want to sing in a choir. Mixed choirs, but the Mastreechter Staar must also put all the sails. “We often stand at fairs and then we talk to men about whether they have ever thought about coming to sing,” says chairman Lou Coninx. Extra singers The number of members is up to par, but for the Christmas concerts with Rieu, extra singers are needed. “We have contractually arranged that we will be in nine performances with a hundred singers. In practice, you need more singers. To replace the sick and men who are prevented from being.” Hence the call for extra singers. Because there is room on stage for up to 110 singers, a schedule has been made with whom sing along on which days. Not very few criteria The Mastreechter Staar was not demanding in her call. The only requirement that the new singers must meet is that they are men, younger than sixty years. For the rest, there were no criteria. Even singing experience was not a requirement. “In principle, everyone can learn to sing,” Coninx says. Clinics of clinics Learning to sing is done during four clinics given by Hennie Ramaekers, conductor of "De Staar". The singers mainly learn to sing melodies and discover their voice. At the clinics, a number of men will lose weight. The choir hopes for about twenty extra choir members for the Rieu concerts. "You only experience this once" Caro Crowns from Stokhem immediately came up when he saw the call. “This is such a mega-experience. With a renowned choir, and also also performing with André Rieu, you only experience that once in your life." Crowns is already an experienced chorister, but that does not apply to all new growths. It consists of a mix of experienced singers and newcomers. Receiving with open arms Crowns also notice that it is difficult for choirs to find men: "If I sign up, I do not even have to do a voice test, so to speak. They are so happy that a man reports." He has no explanation as to why men like to sing in a choir these days: "They apparently make different choices. You can only spend your free time once and maybe they choose a football club or harmony.” Keep on hanging Lou Coninx is pleased to be working with Rieu. “We are very much to bring in new members. This seemed like a unique opportunity to get new singers.” And of course, Coninx hopes that a number of singers will linger after Rieu’s concerts. The printing program Before that happens, the new singers have a busy program ahead of them. After the summer, the repertoire of the ten songs that are sung at the Christmas concerts will actually start. Each week, they have two rehearsals: one with the new group and one with the whole choir. The months of November and December are almost entirely filled with Rieu rehearsals and performances.