Social Events

Opening reception

Opening speech by Lex Bouter. Lex Bouter has been vice chancellor of VU University Amsterdam and the Windesheim University of Professional Education since 1 September 2006. As writer, Lex Bouter has published more than 420 international scientific publications and as dissertation director he has successfully chaired approximately 70 dissertation committees.

(An authentic herring stand will be available)

Workshop Diner, with concert by Lefties Soul Connection

The Amsterdam collective Lefties Soul Connection gives a new meaning to raw funk & soul with their new album ‘Skimming the Skum’. In Europe, but also in countries like Japan and USA, they got a lot of attention because of their energetic, heavy raw music on record and on stage. With the release of ‘Skimming the Skum’ they definitely can be placed among the best funk bands of today and they get a lot of love by the international funk community. And because of their heavy beats and stompin’ grooves they also gained a lot of fans within the Hip-Hop (bboy) and Dance community

Conference dinner at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam

The Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building". Because of its highly regarded acoustics, the Concertgebouw is considered one of the finest concert halls in the world, along with places such as Boston's Symphony Hall and the Musikverein in Vienna.

The evening will be opened by Prof. dr. Jos Engelen - President Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research NWO

Jos Engelen (1950) studied physics in Nijmegen. He became professor of Experimental Physics at the Universiteit van Amsterdam in 1987. From 2001 to 2003 Engelen was director of the Nikhef institute and in 2004 he became the scientific director and deputy director-general of CERN, a position he held until 2008. His responsibilities there included overseeing the construction and commissioning of the new LHC particle accelerator and the associated experimental set-ups. From 2007 to 2008 Engelen was chair of ASTRON, the NWO institute for radio astronomy. He was appointed as chairman of NWO as of 1 January 2009.

Concert by The Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra

The Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the South African conductor Conrad van Alphen, is a dynamic orchestra which consists of enthusiastic professional musicians. Although the orchestra only exists since 2000 it is now considered one of the best chamber orchestras in the Netherlands. Not only does the Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra perform in major concert halls such as 'Het Concertgebouw' in Amsterdam, 'De Doelen' in Rotterdam and the 'Queen Elizabeth hall' in Antwerp, but also in many other venues nationally as well as internationally. The orchestra also has an own concert series in Rotterdam.

The Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra tours regularly in Europe, and concert tours to America, South Africa and Russia are being planned for the upcoming seasons.

The CD which they recorded for the prestigious label Channel Classics, together with the 'Katona Twins' (famous Hungarian Guitar Duo) was awarded 'Editor's Choice' in the Gramophone Magazine February 2002.