(Kassel) The composer Camille van Lunen is now the second chairwoman of the German Composers’ Association (DKV) – Landesverband NRW.

About the person: Camille van Lunen was only a junior student (viola) and studied singing in the Netherlands. At some point she dared to jump back to the source: the composition that had fascinated her since childhood – after all, she didn’t have much to lose, as she remarks with a wink. International prizes and orders followed. Today she no longer sings or plays the stages of Europe, but leaves this to their protagonists and interpreters. Camille also enjoys leading master classes in improvisation and composition of vocal music. A formative experience was her time as Composer in Residence at a leading Biological Institute in Lisbon: stringency, tireless creativity and solidarity. She would also like to use these qualities, which she appreciates in scientists, in her new role at DKV.

Regarding the current works: The composer Camille van Lunen, once on the stage as Soprano, knows how to delight and touch an audience. Her works are provocative but also lyrical and often relate to the present day. She sets contemporary texts, poetics and libretti to music and composes with original spatial concepts for choirs, soloists and organizers. Among them are her “Christmas Oratorio”: Star over Amsterdam, a contemporary adaptation of the Christmas story in an occupied country, as well as her last work “Schrei, Hiob, Schrei”, with contemporary parallels. It is expected to be performed for the first time on September 24th in Bonn by the chamber choir at the University of Bonn under the direction of: Alexander Lüken. Cornelia Köhler wrote the libretto. Both works were published by Furore Verlag. Her youth opera AMAL – OVER THE WALL is going on a European tour: she will be making guest appearances in three cities in France in June. The premieres took place in Bethlehem and Ramallah last year.

Current dates and world premieres

AMAL-OVER THE WALL Youth opera for soloists, choir and orchestra
Cornelia Koehler: Libretto (English and Arabic) Amwaj Choir, Orchester des élèves du conservatoire Issy-Vanves et St Omer Armance Quéro: violoncello solo, Mathilde Vittu: conductor Commissioned by Amwaj Choir. Grants in Aid by Ernst by Siemens Music Foundation.
European tour: June 10, 2022 La Seine Musicale, Boulogne-Billancourt (European premiere) 12.6.2022 La Barcarolle, Saint Omer 14.6.2022 Le Grand Sud, Lille

Schrei HIOB Schrei
Oratorio for baritone, choir, piano and percussion Cornelia Koehler: Libretto
Chamber Choir at the University of Bonn Director: Alexander Lüken
09/24/2022 Bonn (world premiere) 09/25/2022 Cologne

TALITHA, COME BACK! Youth opera, libretto by Cornelia Koehler in German and Arab. Music Department Talitha Kumi and friends: Talitha Kumi Children and Youth Choir Christophorus-Kantorei Altensteig, Lg. Michael Nonnenmann Soprano: Caroline Melzer,
Vienna Palestinian Instrumental Ensemble & Brass for Peace. December 10, 2022 Bethlehem, Dar Annadwa (world premiere)
German tour: 15-20.12.2022 Altensteig, Dusseldorf, Berlin #In planning 2022/23

DANSES Song cycle: DANSES “Dansez, dansez, sinon vous êtes perdus” (Pina Bausch) Pia Davila: soprano Leonie Klein: prepared vibraphone Karlsruhe, Tollhaus (world premiere) Potsdam, foyer of the Nikolai Hall Hamburg, tonali hall