2001
The Youth Concerts Production Company is launching, established in the Small Hall of the Concertgebouw.
25 Years of Oorkaan
In 2026, we will celebrate a special anniversary year. We will celebrate 25 years of Oorkaan and 5 years of the Oorkaan Ensemble.
Oorkaan was founded in 2001 in the Small Hall of the Royal Concertgebouw, born out of a desire to bring music to young people in a surprising and accessible way. In 2015, Artistic Director Caecilia Thunnissen introduced the Oorkaan Method: theatrical concerts featuring only musicians on stage, playing from memory, without text, as physical performers for whom music is their language. We do this with the top musicians of the Oorkaan Ensemble and with guest ensembles and orchestras. Twenty-five years later, our mission remains as solid as ever: to open as many ears as possible to the infinite world of music. Music is for everyone and belongs to everyone. You can understand music without saying a word. It moves you, challenges you, inspires you, or irritates you—but it never leaves you unmoved. Music creates space for imagination and wonder. And when experienced together live, music brings people together. With thanks to our visitors, creators, musicians, colleagues, programmers, supporters, and partners.
“A quote will go here about how proud we are of this wonderful milestone and the achievements we’ve made together”Caecilia Thunnissen
Timeline
2001
2009
2009
The Youth Concerts Production Company and the Oorproeven Workshop are merging to form the Oorkaan Foundation.
2010
2011
2011
Oorkania was an interactive and free online educational music game, developed specifically for children ages 6 and up. The game, created by Oorkaan in collaboration with Paladin Studios and Vuurrood, was designed to introduce children to the power of music in a playful way. In 2012, the game was nominated for a Dutch Game Award in the Best Music & Audio Design category.
2015
2015
Caecilia Thunnissen is taking over as artistic director from Jessica de Heer.
2016
2016
Oorkaan is getting a new brand identity, featuring fresh colors and our signature eyes. The new brand identity was designed by Festina Amsterdam.
2017
2017
Oorkaan was one of the nominees in the ‘Best Performance’ category. Oorkaan views this honorable nomination as a special recognition and appreciation of its activities and the contribution it is able to make to the city of Amsterdam through them.
Photo: Hugo Bijlsma, Caecilia Thunnissen, and Marion Jonk, by Het Parool
2018
2018
Oorkaan produced five radio plays for the “Aangenaam Klassiek for Kids” 2-CD box set, inspired by their own concerts. The stories are inspired by Oorkaan’s concerts: Mr. Sax’s Little Square, Mr. Tobias and the Black Monster, Quartets with Beethoven, and Cello Warriors, as well as an abridged radio play version of the family concert Romeo and Juliet with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
2019
2020
2020
Kriebel, the international co-production by Oorkaan, De Nationale Opera, and Philharmonie Luxembourg, won the 2020 Young Music Audiences Award (YAMaward) in the Best Small Ensemble category. This ensemble consisted of violinist and singer Tiemo Wang, dancer and percussionist Vitaly Medvedev, and singer and dancer Sarah Reynolds. They were trained using the Oorkaan Method. The production was directed by Caecilia Thunnissen.
2021
2021
On Monday, September 27, 2021, to mark its 20th anniversary, Oorkaan presented its own ensemble at Podium Mozaïek in Amsterdam, featuring four multi-talented, vibrant young musicians of the highest international caliber. Harpist Michela Zanoni, clarinetist Michele Mazzini, bassoonist Robbrecht Van Cauwenberghe, and percussionist Veysel Dzhesur together form the Oorkaan Ensemble.
2022
2022
The Children's Council for Music consists of a group of children between the ages of 8 and 12 a few times a year. Thanks to their feedback, we can make the shows even better and more fun!
2025