The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (NBE), founded in 1959 by bassoonist Thom de Klerk, is a Dutch chamber ensemble of over twenty wind musicians known for theatrical concert formats that blend music, storytelling and cross-cultural collaboration. Its annual New Year's Concert from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam - broadcast live on television since 1995 - has become a national institution. Artistic director Bart Schneemann shaped the ensemble's distinctive identity from 1988 onwards, and the NBE also invests structurally in young talent through its jongNBE academy and a national composition competition.
The NBE announces its first national New Year's Concert on Tour for January 2027, with the ensemble leaving the Concertgebouw for the first time to bring the concert to theaters throughout the Netherlands.
The New Year's Concert 2026 at the Concertgebouw is dedicated to the theme 'Breath of the City', with unexpected guests and the winners of the composition competition.
The NBE celebrates fifty years of Surinamese independence with a special program at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, together with Denise Jannah and Black Harmony.
The NBE collaborates with Flamenco Biënnale Nederland for the first time in twelve years, this time with flamenco singer David Lagos and a world premiere of compositions by Florian Magnus Maier.
JongNBE collaborates with Holland Opera for the fifth time for an opera-on-location production in and around Fort Rijnauwen in Bunnik.
The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and Duda Paiva Company present 'Breath of the Forest', a theatrical concert inspired by the Kamayurá people of the Amazon.
The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble performs Strauss and Schoenberg, exploring love and inner transformation through music.
The Dutch Brass Ensemble and mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn present the pre-premiere of 'Broze Aarde' in Leiden.
The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and Duda Paiva Company present a unique performance combining live music and puppetry exploring the bond between humans and nature.
The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and Duda Paiva Company present a multidisciplinary performance combining music, dance and puppetry.
The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and Duda Paiva Company present 'Adem van het Woud', a unique fusion of classical wind music and contemporary dance.
Theatre performance about writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, featuring musical accompaniment by the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble and stories from the Ogoni community.
The Dutch Brass Ensemble explores love through works by Strauss and Schönberg, tracing the journey from romantic yearning to stark reality.
Theatre performance about Ken Saro-Wiwa, writer and activist, featuring Bright Richards and the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble. A story of courage, dignity and resistance against injustice.
Theatre performance about Ken Saro-Wiwa, writer and activist, featuring Bright Richards and the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble. A story of courage, dignity and resistance.