Gallery of Tones Live in Bethlehemkerk

Opening the series

The new concert series featuring classical, world jazz and contemporary music from different cultural backgrounds. Gallery of Tones and Studio 150 are organizing a series of monthly concerts that focus on open-mindedness and diversity in musical styles, genres and instruments.

Aart Strootman – solo

Minimal Music for electric guitar
Work by Philipp Glass, Anthony Fiumara, Steve Reich, Aart Strootman

Nawras Altaki & Oene van Geel – Duo

Nieuwe Syrian songs an improvisations.
Nawras Altaki (ud/vocals) and Oene van Geel (viola/percussion) seek adventure in an open approach to Nawras’ songs. Narrative, wistful, danceable and describing love: it all comes along.

Fee 20,- (full price) / 15,- (students and similar)

Family: 10,- per person, on entry
Groups of 10 people or more: 7,50 per persoon, reservation via
Free for Kids up to age 12

Nawras Altaky

Nawras Altaky is a vocalist, Ud player, composer and improviser based in Utrecht the Netherlands. Born in 1995 in “ As-Suwayda ”, or the Druze mountain of south Syria. Performs besides his own compositions a varied repertoire of classical, traditional, modern, experimental and world music. Explores world music through interdisciplinary collaborations and intercultural projects.

He was chosen as one of the most promising classical musicians in The Netherlands and Belgium for the next decade by the Dutch Newspaper NRC. NRC: “Altaky distinguished a warm baritone voice with which he can sing breathtakingly, colourful, softly and effectively build tension through a sublime sense of timing.”

As a performer Altaky shared the stage with Caro Emerald, Ellen Ten Damme, Oene van Geel, Janne Schra, Tony Roe and many other wonderful artists.

Oene van Geel

Oene is a musical adventurer. Influenced by jazz, Indian music, chamber music and free improvisation, he uses his virtuoso improvisational skills and his compositional talent for a wide range of musical activities. He toured Europe, the Middle East, India, Japan, the United States and Canada.

In addition to playing with his own formations, he is regularly invited as an improvising guest soloist and workshop leader.

Composing is currently Oene’s main activity. He is most active in musical theater and chamber music. He has composed for ensembles and festivals: De Nationale Opera, The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Holland Opera, Liza Ferschtman + Calefax, Bach Festival Dordrecht (2020), The Amsterdam Viola Festival (2017), Cello Biennale Amsterdam (2008 and 2016 edition) and more.

Aart Strootman

Pioneering guitarist and composer Aart Strootman (1987) throws a solid knock on the door of the music business of our times. His intellect and frank, fresh view on musical genres and styles justify a most prominent position in the music scene. In 2012 he found his band TEMKO. As a core member/guitarist of ensemble s t a r g a z e he worked with Laura Mvula, John Cale, Terry Riley, Bill Frisell, Philippe Jaroussky, Shara Worden, Nils Frahm and many others.

In September 2017 he won the prestigious Gaudeamus composition. In May 2018 he won the 1st prize at the prix Annelie de Man composition competition and in december of that year the 1st prize at the International Viola Congress. In 2019 he received the most important composition prize of The Netherlands, the Matthijs Vermeulenprijs.

He has played solo with Britten Sinfonia, the HR,WDR, SWR, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. As a soloist he played recitals at the most diverse venues: from local museums to the Barbican Hall, from Amsterdam to Wellington. Most of these concerts are played on homemade instruments developed via elaborate collaborations with composers or in depth research.

““Aart Strootman is completely authentic; he makes inventions in the field of sound that are particularly inspiring. He approaches composition with an exceptional freshness and knows how to reinvent the sound of each instrument in an ensemble down to the finest detail. A performer, an improviser, an inventor, a unique composer.” (Gaudeamus jury)

Supported by Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsdeel Noord