Cantate Domino
Choir presentation
In 1959, Canon and teacher Michaël Ghijs became the choir director of Cantate Domino, enthusiastically taking over from his predecessor, E.H. Jules Ghyselen.
The choir was named “Cantate Domino” (Sing to the Lord) in reference to its Christian inspiration. The management of the Sint-Maarten Institute supported it as it developed: rehearsals, the uniform, the emblem, the musical repertoire, international contacts, the many concerts, TV performances, the first records, audiences with the King and the Pope, hosting ensembles from other countries.
By holding annual anniversary concerts, the city of Aalst gained an impressive cultural event.
In 1970, the first concert tour outside Europe was organised: for 4 weeks, Cantate Domino performed successfully in 10 states across America.
Since then, concerts have been organised abroad almost every year—more than 100 in total!
Religious music certainly holds a central place, but the choir’s repertoire covers almost the entire history of music, from the Renaissance to contemporary works.
Through exchanges, festivals and direct contacts, Cantate Domino invites foreign choirs and orchestras to Aalst almost every year, sometimes up to three times a year: groups from, among others, Australia, Russia, the United States, Argentina, South Africa, Japan, Canada, Israel, European countries and former Eastern European countries.
Many choir members later remain passionate about music and even professionally active as soloists, or they themselves found singing groups or ensembles.
In 2004, the choir’s founding conductor, Canon Michaël Ghijs, became an honorary citizen of the city of Aalst.
Many major compositions have been performed with the choir’s participation in churches, cathedrals and concert halls in Belgium, as well as abroad, under the direction of renowned conductors.
The choir has made a whole series of audio recordings and has taken part in film shoots such as “Daens” and “In Bruges”. In 2017, it even contributed to the making of the film “Antonia: A Symphony”.
THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Andries De Winter
Andries De Winter (born in 1978 in Dendermonde) joined Cantate Domino at the age of 10. His inspiring choir director, Canon Michaël Ghijs, passed on his passion for choral singing to him. Like many singers before and after him, Andries De Winter discovered there the sacred and secular repertoire by composers from every era of classical music: from Palestrina and Monteverdi to Bernstein and Webber.
He studied, among other subjects, solfège, trumpet, piano, music history and general music theory at the academies of Denderhautem, Meerbeke and Ninove.
In 2000, he obtained a Master’s degree in Religious Studies at KU Leuven.
During his studies, he devoted himself to the study of Renaissance choral music with the vocal ensemble Thamyris, directed by Stratton Bull. This only fuelled his interest in early music.
From September 2000, he taught religion at the school he had once attended, first in the technical track and then also in the general track.
As a former Cantate Domino singer and secondary-school teacher, he remained active for a long time by attending rehearsals and supporting the choir whenever needed.
Cantate Domino
Choir presentation
In 1959, Canon and teacher Michaël Ghijs became the choir director of Cantate Domino, enthusiastically taking over from his predecessor, E.H. Jules Ghyselen.
The choir was named “Cantate Domino” (Sing to the Lord) in reference to its Christian inspiration. The management of the Sint-Maarten Institute supported it as it developed: rehearsals, the uniform, the emblem, the musical repertoire, international contacts, the many concerts, TV performances, the first records, audiences with the King and the Pope, hosting ensembles from other countries.
By holding annual anniversary concerts, the city of Aalst gained an impressive cultural event.
In 1970, the first concert tour outside Europe was organised: for 4 weeks, Cantate Domino performed successfully in 10 states across America.
Since then, concerts have been organised abroad almost every year—more than 100 in total!
Religious music certainly holds a central place, but the choir’s repertoire covers almost the entire history of music, from the Renaissance to contemporary works.
Through exchanges, festivals and direct contacts, Cantate Domino invites foreign choirs and orchestras to Aalst almost every year, sometimes up to three times a year: groups from, among others, Australia, Russia, the United States, Argentina, South Africa, Japan, Canada, Israel, European countries and former Eastern European countries.
Many choir members later remain passionate about music and even professionally active as soloists, or they themselves found singing groups or ensembles.
In 2004, the choir’s founding conductor, Canon Michaël Ghijs, became an honorary citizen of the city of Aalst.
Many major compositions have been performed with the choir’s participation in churches, cathedrals and concert halls in Belgium, as well as abroad, under the direction of renowned conductors.
The choir has made a whole series of audio recordings and has taken part in film shoots such as “Daens” and “In Bruges”. In 2017, it even contributed to the making of the film “Antonia: A Symphony”.
THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Andries De Winter
Andries De Winter (born in 1978 in Dendermonde) joined Cantate Domino at the age of 10. His inspiring choir director, Canon Michaël Ghijs, passed on his passion for choral singing to him. Like many singers before and after him, Andries De Winter discovered there the sacred and secular repertoire by composers from every era of classical music: from Palestrina and Monteverdi to Bernstein and Webber.
He studied, among other subjects, solfège, trumpet, piano, music history and general music theory at the academies of Denderhautem, Meerbeke and Ninove.
In 2000, he obtained a Master’s degree in Religious Studies at KU Leuven.
During his studies, he devoted himself to the study of Renaissance choral music with the vocal ensemble Thamyris, directed by Stratton Bull. This only fuelled his interest in early music.
From September 2000, he taught religion at the school he had once attended, first in the technical track and then also in the general track.
As a former Cantate Domino singer and secondary-school teacher, he remained active for a long time by attending rehearsals and supporting the choir whenever needed.