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Introducing Crescendo’s Tour

The town of Urk is known for three things: fishing, church attendance, and choirs. Despite increasing restrictions on fishing, this former Dutch island in the Zuiderzee has the largest commercial fish auction in Holland and the most modern one in Europe. Some estimate that well over 90% of the 18,000 inhabitants of this village attend one of the twenty (predominantly Reformed) churches in the village. Proof that Urkers love to sing are the over 25 choirs in Urk, a number of which are eagerly asked to perform throughout The Netherlands and abroad.

Crescendo has been singing since 1953. They sing in packed churches throughout The Netherlands as well as a range of other locations.  They sing in evangelism concerts in the city centre of Amsterdam. In 1982 they toured behind the Iron Curtain as an “entertainment group” in Hungary, where they smuggled Bibles and sang in run down churches. Several times they have sung in Switzerland and Germany, and more recently in Scotland. The Dutch royal family has also invited them to sing for them on several occasions, such as a Christmas celebration with the royal family and their personnel in their palace in Apeldoorn.

Whether they sing in a Dutch royal palace or a remote church in Hungary, their aim is to sing of the great works of God. This aim is reflected in their inspiring manner of singing. The chief aim of the choir remains to spread the gospel through song, to the glory of God alone.

This desire moved Crescendo to offer to tour North America to raise funds for Bonisa Mission.  The choir will be directed by Louwe Kramer Jr, who has succeeded his father and grandfather as director of the choir. The choir will be accompanied by Pieter Heykoop, an organist whose playing can be heard on over 50 CD’s. They hope to sing a variety of psalms, hymns, and a few folk songs in Dutch and English. Since 1990 Piet Baarssen is Crescendo's soloist.

The tour will take place shortly before Thanksgiving Day in Canada.  As Thanksgiving Day approaches, what better combination can there be than singing and giving? Singing of the goodness of the Lord who has provided material blessings and is the source of every spiritual blessing? Giving to support care for handicapped children who are otherwise neglected and even shunned in China? We look forward to hearing this choir together with you!