Nijmeegs Studentenorkest Collegium Musicum Carolinum

The Nijmeegs Studentenorkest Collegium Musicum Carolinum (CMC) is a student symphony orchestra based in Nijmegen, Netherlands. It was founded in 1937 as part of a combined choir and orchestra named Kamerkoor- en Orkest Alphons Diepenbrock, making it, together with the Nijmeegs Studentenkoor Alphons Diepenbrock, the oldest cultural student association in Nijmegen. The orchestra is open primarily to students and alumni of Radboud University, HAN University of Applied Sciences, and ROC Nijmegen. It rehearses and performs one main programme per semester, often in venues such as Concertgebouw de Vereeniging in Nijmegen, and regularly invites professional soloists to perform with the orchestra. In addition to its regular concert series, CMC organises monthly activities, weekly social gatherings, and a foreign tour every two years. Recent tour destinations have included Germany, Denmark, Hungary, and Belgium, with a planned tour to Brussels and Prague in summer 2024. The orchestra's repertoire focuses on Romantic works, with composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, Dvořák, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner, Rachmaninoff, Wagner, Mahler, Berlioz, Prokofiev, Saint-Saëns, Grieg, and Debussy frequently featured. The orchestra is led by conductor Pim Cuijpers, who has held the position since September 2016. CMC is a true student-run organisation: a new board is elected annually, and members organise concerts and activities in collaboration with various committees and external partners. The orchestra also maintains a close partnership with Radboudumc, giving an annual concert for students and staff of the medical faculty and hospital since 1999.

The Nijmeegs Studentenorkest Collegium Musicum Carolinum (CMC) traces its origins to 1937, when it was founded as part of a combined choir and orchestra called Kamerkoor- en Orkest Alphons Diepenbrock. At that time, the combined ensemble had about 20 members, and the orchestra was conducted by Max Prick van Wely. During World War II, the association temporarily disappeared. After the war, it was re-established as the Studenten Muziekvereniging Dr. Alphons Diepenbrock, named after the Dutch composer Alphons Diepenbrock. In 1953, the choir and orchestra became two separate associations, though they shared the same conductor, Father Ben Kahmann. Kahmann led the orchestra for 18 years, the longest tenure of any conductor, and steered it toward a more modern repertoire, alternating works by Bach and Telemann with compositions by Andriessen and Hindemith. He also regularly commissioned Dutch composers to write works specifically for the choir and orchestra. After Kahmann's departure in 1970, several conductors followed in quick succession until Jules van Hessen took over. In 1974, the orchestra separated from the choir and continued as the Nijmeegs Studentenorkest Collegium Musicum Carolinum, while the choir became the Nijmeegs Studentenkoor Alphons Diepenbrock (NSKAD). In 1987, the orchestra gave a lustrum concert featuring Gustav Mahler's First Symphony and a show by Mini and Maxi. Half a year later, Van Hessen left the orchestra. After a brief collaboration with Tilo Lehmann, Josef Suilen became conductor in 1991. In 1996, the orchestra traveled to Japan, where it performed Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition four times. Since 1999, the orchestra has worked closely with Radboudumc, giving an annual concert in De Vereeniging for students and staff of the medical faculty and hospital. In the summer of 2000, British conductor Quentin Clare took over. Works from this period included Brahms's first two symphonies, Holst's The Planets (performed at the fourteenth lustrum), and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (performed at the fifteenth lustrum). After Clare's departure in 2012, the orchestra was led by Karel Deseure and Frans-Aert Burghgraef. Since September 2016, Pim Cuijpers has been the conductor. The orchestra continues to perform primarily Romantic works and maintains an active schedule of concerts, tours, and social activities for its members.

• 2024

  Summer tour to Brussels and Prague.

• 2016

  Pim Cuijpers becomes conductor.

• 2012

  Quentin Clare departs; Karel Deseure and Frans-Aert Burghgraef take over.

• 2000

  Quentin Clare becomes conductor.

• 1999

  Begins annual concert collaboration with Radboudumc.

• 1996

  Tour to Japan, performing Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition four times.

• 1991

  Josef Suilen becomes conductor.

• 1987

  Lustrum concert featuring Mahler's First Symphony and a show by Mini and Maxi.

• 1974

  Orchestra separates from choir and continues as Nijmeegs Studentenorkest Collegium Musicum Carolinum.

• 1970

  Ben Kahmann steps down after 18 years as conductor.

• 1953

  Choir and orchestra become separate associations under conductor Ben Kahmann.

• 1937

  Founded as part of Kamerkoor- en Orkest Alphons Diepenbrock.

Student-run symphony orchestra for students and alumni in Nijmegen, focusing on Romantic repertoire and accessible classical concerts.

• Symphonic concerts

  Regular concert series each semester, often in Concertgebouw de Vereeniging.

• Foreign tours

  Biennial tours to destinations such as Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Belgium, and in 2024 Brussels and Prague.

• Chamber music ensembles

  Small ensembles formed within the orchestra that play outside rehearsal time.

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2. 2Nijmeegs Studentenorkest Collegium Musicum Carolinum - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org
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