Our Board

The European Choral Association is currently governed by a board of twelve under the presidency of Dermot O’Callaghan (elected in November 2021).

The board receives support from different commissions and committees (such as the Artistic Strategic Group and the Youth Committee) as well as the staff of the European Choral Association.

Read our full Press Release about the elections in November 2021.

 

MEET THE BOARD 2021 – 2024

Dermot O'Callaghan

Ireland

President  Contact

Dermot is CEO of Sing Ireland. He has many years of choral and orchestral conductor experiences as well as working as vocal and instrumental teacher, a deputy singer in the professional choir.

Martine Spanjers

The Netherlands

1st Vice-President and Treasurer  Contact

Martine is the manager of ZIMIHC Maatwerk. She studied Art History in the city of Utrecht and worked as project leader, fundraiser and head of public affairs in museums of contemporary art.

Burak Onur Erdem

Turkey

2nd Artistic Vice-President  Contact

Dr. Burak Onur Erdem is the principal conductor and artistic director of the Turkish State Choir since 2017. With his professional background in musical studies, he has given concerts in many European countries.

Raul Talmar

Estonia

3rd Vice-President  Contact

Raul is chief conductor of K.O.O.R. Mixed Choir and Mixed Choir of BFM of Tallinn University. He has longtime collaboration with Estonian song celebrations and has been artistic director of stage movement and programme.

Marco Fornasier

Italy

Marco has collaborated as continuist (harpsichord and organ) with several orchestras and choirs in Italy and he is a great fan of Renaissance and Baroque music. Marco also loves sports and competitions, especially soccer.

Silvija Pročkytė

Lithuania

Silvija studied music education and conducting and is now working with two university choirs and organising choir festivals. She believes that singing makes the better world.

Jeroen Beckers

Belgium

Jeroen is a Belgian choral conductor, violinist, teacher and organiser. He studied violin, voila and choral conducting and has experiences playing as freelance violist in the orchestra from different countries.

Xavier Devillers

Belgium

Xavier is a bass-baritone, choir director and music teacher. He studied English and German languages and literature, musicology, composition, conducting and singing. A former university assistant in musicology, he is also a three-time EuroChoir alumnus.

Tamara Adamov Petijevic

Serbia

Dr. Tamara Adamov Petijevic is a Serbian conductor, violin player and teacher, a researcher in the field of choral music and leader as well as artistic director of three choirs and two symphony orchestras.

Côme Ferrand Cooper

France

Côme has 15 years experiences in the pop/rock/jazz music business, managing events and concert venues before joining ECA-EC. He has developed useful tools in managing and running international cooperation projects, and he has become an advocate for connecting different parts of the Music Sector.

Josep Vila i Casañas

Spain

Josep is a Spanish conductor, composer and pedagogue, his specialism is the a cappella repertoire, as well as choral and orchestral literature down the ages. He has worked as a guest conductor with choirs and orchestras from different European countries.

Daphne Wassink

The Netherlands

Co-opted as representative of the Friends of Choral Music in Europe

Daphne is a public policy and arts management professional. She studied choral conducting, electrical engineering and science & innovation management. She is also a singer in a number of (semi-) professional choirs in the Netherlands and active contributor to choral organisations in the Netherlands and abroad.

Board of European Choral Association 2018 - 2021

 

  • Carlo Pavese (IT) | President
  • Dermot O’Callaghan (IE) | 1st Vice-President
  • Jean -Claude Wilkens (FR) | 2nd Artistic Vice-President
  • Martine Spanjers (NL) | Treasurer
  • Mihela Jagodic (SI)
  • Burak Onur Erdem (TR)
  • Marti Ferrer (ES)
  • Loti Piris Niño (BE)
  • Flannery Ryan (DE)
  • Raul Talmar (EE)
  • Martin Wildhaber (CH)
Board of European Choral Association 2015 - 2018

 

 

  • Gábor Móczar (HU) | President
  • Carlo Pavese (IT) | 1st Vice-President
  • Jan Schumacher (DE) | 2nd Vice-President, Chair of the Music Commission
  • Daphne Wassink (NL) | 3rd Vice-President
  • Koenraad De Meulder (BE) | Treasurer
  • Burak Onur Erdem (TR)
  • Martí Ferrer (ES)
  • Reijo Kekkonen (FI)
  • Victoria Liedbergius (NO)
  • Loti Piris Niño (BE)
  • Patrick Secchiari (CH)
  • Kaie Tanner (EE)
  • Jean-Claude Wilkens (FR)
Board of European Choral Association 2012 - 2015
  • Gábor Móczár (HU) | President
  • Carlo Pavese (IT) | Vice-president
  • Anneliese Zeh (AT) | Vice-president
  • Jan Schumacher (DE) | Vice-president
  • Koenraad de Meulder (BE) | Treasurer
  • Séverine Delforge (BE)
  • Martí Ferrer (ES)
  • Guido Helbling (CH)
  • Victoria Liedbergius (NO)
  • Reijo Kekkonen (FI)
  • Kaie Tanner (EE)
  • Daphne Wassink (NL)
  • Jean-Claude Wilkens (FR)
Board of European Choral Association 2009 - 2012
  • Sante Fornasier (IT) | President
  • Gábor Móczár (HU) | Vice-president
  • Fred Sjöberg (SE) | Vice-president
  • Jean Smeets (BE) | Treasurer
  • Séverine Delforge (BE)
  • Montserrat Gual (ES)
  • Guido Helbling (CH)
  • Mihela Jagodic (SI)
  • Reijo Kekkonen (FI)
  • Jan Schumacher (DE)
  • Kaie Tanner (EE)
  • Thierry Thiébaut (FR)
  • Daphne Wassink (NL)

Coo-opted after AGEC merge:
Anneliese Zeh (AT)
Hans Hierck (NL)

Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 2006 - 2009

 

  • Jeroen Schrijner (NL) | President
  • Thierry Thiébaut (FR) | Vice-president
  • Fred Sjöberg (SE) | Vice-president
  • Barbara Bieri (DE) | Treasurer
  • Kjetil Aamann (NO)
  • Sante Fornasier (IT)
  • Montserrat Gual (ES)
  • Mihela Jagodic (SI)
  • Éva Kollár (HU)
  • Séverine Delforge (BE)
  • Aarne Saluveer (EE)
  • Guido Helbling (CH)
  • Jean Smeets (BE)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 2003 - 2006
  • Jeroen Schrijner (NL) | President
  • Christopher Simmons (UK) | Vice-president
  • Theodora Pavlovitch (BG) | Vice-president
  • Barbara Bieri (DE) | Treasurer
  • Kjetil Aamann (NO)
  • Sante Fornasier (IT)
  • Montserrat Gual (ES)
  • Éva Kollár (HU)
  • Donka Miteva (BG)
  • Margaret O’Sullivan (IE)
  • Aarne Saluveer (EE)
  • Fred Sjöberg (SE)
  • Jean Smeets (BE)
  • Thierry Thiébaut (FR)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 2000 - 2003
  • Christopher Simmons (UK) | President
  • Hansruedi Kämpfen (CH) | Vice-president
  • Noël Minet (BE) | Vice-president
  • Tomaz Faganel (SI) | Treasurer
  • Kjetil Aamann (NO)
  • Gábor Baross (HU)
  • Barbara Bieri (DE)
  • Julien Dubois (FR)
  • Lluis Gomez (ES)
  • Monique Lesenne (BE)
  • Theodora Pavlovitch (BG)
  • Aarne Saluveer (EE)
  • Jeroen Schrijner (NL)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1997 - 2000
  • Noël Minet (BE) | President
  • Philip Olsson (SE) | Vice-president
  • Erwin List (FR) | Vice-president
  • Tomaz Faganel (SI) | Treasurer
  • Gábor Baross (HU)
  • Lluis Gomez (ES)
  • Georg Grün (DE)
  • Hansruedi Kämpfen (SE)
  • Monique Lesenne (BE)
  • Josep Mas i Bigas (ES)
  • Theodora Pavlovitch (BG)
  • Christopher Simmons (UK)
  • Dino Stella (IT)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1995 - 1997
  • Noël Minet (BE) | President
  • Philip Olsson (SE) | Vice-president
  • Lore Auerbach (DE)  | Treasurer
  • Gábor Baross (HU)
  • Tomaz Faganel (SI)
  • Andrew Fairbairn (UK)
  • Lluis Gomez (ES)
  • Steen Lindholm (DK)
  • Erwin List (FR)
  • Andries Ponsteen (NL)
  • Jan Schneider (CZ)
  • Dino Stella (IT)
  • Robert Sund (SE)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1994 - 1995
  • Gilbert Martens (BE) | President
  • Philipp Olsson (SE) | Vice-president
  • Erwin List (FR) | Vice-president
  • Noël Minet (BE) | Treasurer
  • Gábor Baross (HU)
  • Lore Auerbach (DE)
  • Andrew Fairbairn (UK)
  • Lluis Gomez (ES)
  • Steen Lindholm (DK)
  • Andries Ponsteen (NL)
  • Jan Schneider (CZ)
  • Dino Stella (IT)
  • Robert Sund (SE)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1993 - 1994
  • Marcel Corneloup (FR) | President
  • Lore Auerbach (DE) | Vice-president
  • Gilbert Martens (BE) | Vice-president
  • Carlos Bourgeois (BE) | Treasurer
  • Gábor Baross (HU)
  • Giorgio Cogoli (IT)
  • Andrew Fairbairn (UK)
  • Lluis Gomez (ES)
  • August Konow (BG)
  • Enrique Lacomba (ES)
  • Venno Laul (EE)
  • Philip Olsson (SE)
  • Dino Stella (IT)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1991 - 1993

Due to the large number of new members, in autumn 1991 the regulation that each member federation automatically become a member of the executive committee was changed and from 1991 there were elections for a 13-member presidium.

  • Marcel Corneloup (FR) | President
  • Willi Gohl (CH) | Vice-president
  • Jószef Maklari (HU) | Vice-president
  • Oriol Martorell (ES) | Vice-president
  • Paul Wehrle (DE) | Vice-president
  • Jean Baudry (FR) | Treasurer
  • Karlo C. Christensen (DK)
  • Giorgio Cogoli (IT)
  • André Dumont (BE)
  • Bengt Olof Engström (SE)
  • Andrew Fairbairn (UK)
  • Lluis Gomez (ES)
  • Sandro Katscharawa (GE)
  • Juris Klavins (LV)
  • Jiri Kolar (Czechoslovakia)
  • Nikolaij Kutusov (RU)
  • Enrique Lacomba (ES)
  • Venno Laul (EE)
  • Theodor Lind (NO)
  • Erwin List (FR)
  • Antonio Lourenco (PT)
  • Gilbert Martens (BE)
  • Juhani Orrenmaa (FI)
  • Manuel Sagastume (ES)
  • Herbert Sass (DE)
  • Dino Stella (IT)
  • Kasimierz Stobiecki (PL)
  • Fritz ter Wey (DE)
  • Hansruedi Willisegger (CH)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1988 - 1991
  • Marcel Corneloup (FR) | President
  • Willi Gohl (CH) | Vice-president
  • Jószef Maklari (HU) | Vice-president
  • Oriol Martorell (ES) | Vice-president
  • Paul Wehrle (DE) | Vice-president
  • Jean Baudry (FR) | Treasurer
  • Karlo C. Christensen (DK)
  • Giorgio Cogoli (IT)
  • André Dumont (BE)
  • Andrew Fairbairn (UK)
  • Karl-Ernst Hoffmann (AT)
  • Carl Høgset (NO)
  • Enrique Lacomba (ES)
  • Erwin List (FR)
  • Gilbert Martens (BE)
  • Ivo Reis-Miranda (PT)
  • Juhani Orenmaa (FI)
  • Alrberto Rios (ES)
  • Herbert Sass (DE)
  • Helmut Steger (DE)
  • Hansruedi Willisegger (CH)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1983 - 1988

 

  • Marcel Corneloup (FR) | President
  • Willi Gohl (CH) | Vice-president
  • Oriol Martorell (ES) | Vice-president
  • Paul Wehrle (DE) | Vice-president
  • Jean Baudry (FR) | Treasurer
  • André Dumont (BE)
  • Andrew Fairbairn (UK)
  • Karl-Ernst Hoffmann (AT)
  • Carl Høgset (NO)
  • Erwin List (FR)
  • Jószef Maklari (HU)
  • Gilbert Martens (BE)
  • Luigi Paolin (IT)
  • Helmut Steger (DE)
  • Hansruedi Willisegger (CH)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1982 - 1983
  • François Bourel (FR) | President
  • Willi Gohl (CH) | Vice-president
  • Oriol Martorell (ES) | Vice-president
  • Paul Wehrle (DE) | Vice-president
  • Jean Baudry (FR) | Treasurer
  • Marcel Corneloup (FR)
  • André Dumont (BE)
  • Andrew Fairbairn (UK)
  • Karl-Ernst Hoffmann (AT)
  • Carl Høgset (NO)
  • Jószef Maklari (HU)
  • Gilbert Martens (BE)
  • Luigi Paolin (IT)
  • Herbert Sass (DE)
  • Claude Tagger (FR)
  • Hansruedi Willisegger (CH)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1977 - 1982
  • François Bourel (FR) | President
  • Willi Gohl (CH) | Vice-president
  • Oriol Martorell (ES) | Vice-president
  • Herbert Sass (DE) | Chairman
  • Jean Baudry (FR) | Treasurer
  • Marcel Corneloup (FR)
  • Kuniberta Dobrovolskis (DE)
  • André Dumont (BE)
  • Laszlo Heltay (UK)
  • Heinz-Anton Höhnen (DE)
  • Karl-Ernst Hoffmann (AT)
  • Jószef Maklari (HU)
  • Gilbert Martens (BE)
  • Sachari Mednikarof (BG)
  • Johan Rotman (NL)
  • Dan-Olof Stenlund (SE)
  • Hansruedi Willisegger (CH)

 

Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1968 - 1977
  • François Bourel (FR) | President
  • Oriol Martorell (ES) | Vice-president
  • Willi Gohl (CH) | Vice-president
  • Herbert Sass (DE) | Chairman
  • Jean Baudry (FR) | Treasurer
  • Svend Asmussen (DK)
  • Philippe Caillard (FR)
  • Marcel Corneloup (FR)
  • André Dumont (BE)
  • Hans Grischkat (DE)
  • Laszlo Heltay (UK)
  • Karl-Ernst Hoffmann (AT)
  • Gilbert Martens (BE)
  • Gottfried Wolters (DE)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1965 - 1968
  • François Bourel (FR) | President
  • Svend Asmussen (DK) | Vice-president
  • Oriol Martorell (ES) | Vice-president
  • Herbert Sass (DE) | Chairman
  • Gilbert Martens (BE)
  • André Dumont (BE)
  • Gottfried Wolters (DE)
  • Marcel Corneloup (FR)
  • Philippe Caillard (FR)
  • Hans Grischkat (DE)
  • Willi Gohl (CH)
  • Pio Fernandez (IT)
  • Pierre Pernoud (CH)
Board of Europa Cantat / European Federation of Young Choirs 1963 - 1965
  • François Bourel (FR) | President
  • Oriol Martorell (ES) | Vice-president
  • Pierre Pernoud (CH) | Vice-president
  • Roger Motz (FR)
  • Gottfried Wolters (DE)
  • Herbert Sass (DE)
  • Pierre Host
  • Klari Fredborg
  • Willi Träder (DE)
  • Marcel Corneloup (FR)