History

Started in 1953

The Neerpelt Festival was first organised on November 8, 1953. Mr. Jan Coninx, teacher at the St.-Hubertus college in Neerpelt, was its founding father. The first choir competition between ten groups of North Limburg fitted within the framework of the activities of the Davidsfonds. The objective pursued in 1953 was: "to stimulate choirs to actively make music".
On March 21, 1954, 9 Limburg bands participated in the first instrumental festival. A year later, in March 1955, the Limburg Festival did not only cross the provincial borders but the first Dutch band appeared on stage as well. This third festival was a double festival for vocal and instrumental ensembles.
From 1956 onwards, vocal and instrumental groups have been invited alternately. The age limit was set at 25. In the very same year, the first German choirs participated. 1964 was a top year: 7 European countries with 103 choirs and 5,100 participants, among which a number of renowned choirs. And from 1966 onwards, the Warsaw Pact countries started to make their appearance with unforgettable choirs and instrumental ensembles. Thus the festival's fame spread throughout Europe and even beyond and the number of participating countries gradually increased from three or four to no less than 23 in 1982. Just as spectacular was the increase in the number of participating groups: 15 groups registered in 1959, this number was more than doubled by 1960, 78 groups participated in 1962 and the number of groups participating has amounted to some 100 for the last couple of years. Some highlights of the festival history are the double festival editions of 1977 and 2002 due to the 25th and 50th festival anniversaries with about 170 ensembles and 8.000 youngsters. This, as well as the honour of becoming for 3 years the Cultural Ambassador of Flanders mid nineties, placed the European Music Festival for Young People permanently on the European musical and cultural maps.

Statistics

 This table gives you an overview of the nationality of our festival participants through its 56 years.