VU-KOOR

Welcome to the VU-CHOIR!

The VU-choir is a big and diverse Amsterdam university choir. All music-loving students and non-students are welcome, regardless of voice type and level of experience. Each academic year, we have weekly rehearsals in order to perform several beautiful concerts. In recent years, we’ve performed pieces such as Petite Messe Solennelle by Rossini, Verdi’s Requiem in Het Concertgebouw, Gloria by Francis Poulenc, and The Johannes Passion, Mass in B minor by J.S. Bach and Ein Deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms. Our last project was Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, in collaboration with the VU Chamber Orchestra.

Curious to know more about the VU-choir? Click here.

Concerts

On June 6, 2026, the VU-Koor performs its Summer Concert at De Duif in Amsterdam, featuring Martín Palmeri’s Misatango and Ola Gjeilo’s Dark Night of the Soul. Misantango, also known as Misa a Buenos Aires, is a Latin Mass that combines tango rhythms and choral tradition. It first premiered in 1996 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the hometown of the composer. Gjeilo’s Dark Night of the Soul, inspired by the 16th century Spanish poem of San Juan de la Cruz, is a dynamic piece that explores the theme of spiritual development through a dialogue between the soft sounds of piano and the choir.

Under the direction of Dody Soetanto, the international university choir—comprising more than 130 singers from over 25 nationalities—brings together diverse voices in a shared musical and spiritual experience.

Misatango will sound with piano accompaniment by Jelena Popović, bandoneon by Tomás Díaz, and soprano Bereniç Ferrandiz Cuesta. Together, the program offers a beautiful afternoon of choral music.

June 6th 2026, 3:30 & 8:00 PM – De Duif, Prinsengracht 756, 1017 LD Amsterdam

15:30 [Ticket Links here: start 1st of April]

20:00 [Ticket Links here: start 1st of April]

The concert has no breaks.

Doors open 30 mins before.

Concert calendar

The VU-choir has been around since 1955. Now, years later, we have a rich history of concerts and performances. Curious about the projects from previous years? Click the link below, where you can also listen to sound clips of recent concerts.

Concert history

Projects 2025-2026

Misa a Buenos Aires, Palmeri

Summer 2026

Sing with us!

The “VU” in VU-koor stands for its connection with the Vrije Universiteit, but the name also stands for “Verenigd Universiteit Koor”, which means “United University Choir”. This conveys that anyone can join our choir, no matter what university, academy or college they study at. In fact, even non-students are welcome! Whether you’ve enjoyed a complete musical education or just want to see if singing is your cup of tea, you’re welcome with us. There are no auditions! Are you looking for a nice activity next to your study or work, lots of fun, and not least of all a lot of musicality? Want to come and sing in our choir? We have an extra open rehearsal on Monday January 19th. This is during our regular rehearsal moments at 19:30 in the NU-building of the Vrije Universiteit, room 2 on the ground floor (big theater hall). For more info or questions, send an email to info@vukoor.nl