#SHANTYKOOR 😍 During the #Grachtenfestival in Meppel it was June 4, 2011 Shantykorendag. There were 14 Shantychoirs. In this video you will hear Shantychoir De Dure Singers from Vilsteren (near Ommen) with the famous song: The fishermen of San Juan, which was a hit for the singing duo #Frank and #Mirella .
It all started in 2001 with five church choir singers from Vilsteren who spontaneously picked up the idea of one of them and started working with it. After some time a cautious start was made with a choir, which soon grew into a choir of about 25 enthusiastic members from Vilsteren and close surroundings. The church conductor at the time, Gerard Bloo, took on the musical direction. An accordionist and a drawstring harmonica player provided the musical support, with later a drummer joined.
The name for the shanty choir was chosen “De Sturzangers”, named after the weir near Vilsteren in the Overijsselse Vecht, a tourist attraction. Gerard Bloo has put all his energy into “De Struwzangers” for about five years and can be seen as the founder of an enthusiastic group of singers who have developed more and more. Age was the reason Gerard had to drop out. After some interim conductors, Flip Jonkman from Heino came on board as a conductor in early 2008. Flip saw the opportunity to turn the choir and the musicians into a harmonious whole in a short time. https://youtu.be/1XThk450hGg


Shanty choir De Dwzangers from Vilsteren perform in Meppel: