Hans Vonk (conductor) facts for kids

Hans Vonk (born 18 June 1942 – died 29 August 2004) was a famous Dutch conductor. A conductor is someone who leads an orchestra or choir. He was known for his amazing musical talent and for leading many important orchestras around the world.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Hans Vonk was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His father was a violinist in the famous Concertgebouw Orchestra. Sadly, his father passed away when Hans was only three years old.

Hans loved music from a young age. He studied piano at the Amsterdam Conservatory. He also studied law at Amsterdam University. To earn money, he played jazz piano at different places. Later, he learned how to conduct from great teachers like Hermann Scherchen.

Hans Vonk started his conducting career with the Netherlands National Ballet. He later married a ballerina named Jessie Folkerts. He also worked as an assistant conductor for the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He was also an associate conductor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.

Leading Major Orchestras

Hans Vonk became the main conductor for several important groups. These included De Nederlandse Opera (from 1976 to 1985) and the Residentie Orchestra (from 1980 to 1991). He also led the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.

From 1985 to 1990, he was the main conductor for both the Staatskapelle Dresden and the Semper Oper in Dresden, Germany. In 1988, he conducted an opera called Fetonte in Milan, Italy.

Around this time, he faced a health challenge. He was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome. This is a condition that affects the nerves. He had to take a year off to recover. After getting better, he returned to conducting. In 1991, he became the chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra in Cologne, Germany.

Time with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra

In 1992, Hans Vonk first visited the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) in the United States. In 1995, he was chosen to be their music director. He officially started this role in 1996.

In 2001, Hans Vonk began to feel muscle weakness. Doctors didn't know what it was at first. In 2002, he had to leave his job in St. Louis because of his health. It was later found that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. It's a serious condition that affects the nerves and muscles.

His last performance with the SLSO was on May 4, 2002. He conducted Mahler's Symphony No. 4. The audience clapped for a long time. The chairman of the orchestra's board, Virginia Weldon, praised him. She thanked him for his great leadership and artistry. Hans Vonk thanked the audience for their support over six years.

After he passed away, the SLSO honored him. They dedicated a concert of Hector Berlioz's Requiem to him.

Later Years and Legacy

In March 2002, Hans Vonk was named the chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Symphony (NRSO). He led this orchestra for the 2003–2004 season. He was the last chief conductor before the orchestra was disbanded. Because of his illness, he sometimes had to conduct concerts from a wheelchair.

On August 29, 2004, Hans Vonk passed away at his home in Amsterdam. He is buried there. His gravestone has a special message in English:

Music was his life.
Now it brings us
Solace and serenity.

A book about Hans Vonk's life was written by Luuk Reurich in 2006. It is called Hans Vonk, Een dirigentenleven (Hans Vonk, A Conductor's Life).

Hans Vonk made many recordings with different music labels. He was known for his work with the music of Anton Bruckner. He also supported the music of Dutch composer Peter Schat. He even conducted the first-ever performance of Schat's stage work Houdini.

Hans Vonk Music House

Hans Vonk's wife, Jessie, moved to Tasmania, Australia. There, she created the Hans Vonk Music House. This is a special place for chamber music. It was made to honor her husband's memory and his love for music.

Images for kids

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  The Hans Vonk Music House, a place dedicated to his memory.