From Wednesday 13 to Sunday 24 May 2026, the tenth edition of International Song Festival Zeist will take place, our anniversary edition, with the theme 'Back to Nature'! Nature, the world around us, of which we are a part, the nature we can 'make' and break. Nature is also the inspiration for so many beautiful songs from then to now, also for our school youth.
In the school project A world full of insects Storyteller Eric Borrias brings Godfried Bomans' story Erik or the little bug book to life. Composer of the Netherlands Anne-Maartje Lemereis composed the project song, Mary Heylema wrote the lyrics.
We invite you to take part in this song class project for primary schools with pupils from grades 5, 6, 7 and/or 8. Join us and listen to the voice of nature together with school pupils!
The aim is to encourage and develop pupils' singing pleasure and talent, by rehearsing the project songs with all participating schools and working on a special performance. After all, singing together is the basis of musical development. In April/May 2026, Roel Vogel, music teacher and choir conductor, will give two singing lessons at school to rehearse the songs. On Wednesday 20 May, Wednesday 27 May, or Friday 29 May 2026, the festive presentation will take place at the home school, led by Roel Vogel with Sjoerd Brouwer at the piano. Eric Borrias tells the story and the parents and other groups of the school are the audience. An unforgettable experience!
A world full of insects
One night, Erik Pinksterblom ends up in the painting full of insects above his bed. At once he is no taller than the insects around him. At first, everything is wonderful: no homework, no nagging parents, plenty of honey and everyone has great admiration for that strange 'insect' called man.
But Erik soon discovers that even in the insect world, every creature has its own peculiarities, that it too is full of braggarts, branies and vanities. He meets the wasp family, stays in a snail's shell, helps butterflies in love, but is also almost eaten by a spider, after which a bunch of gravediggers want to use him as a meal! So it's not all that fun either. How does he get back into the world outside the painting?
The musical basis of this project is the poem A world full of insects written by Mary Heylema and set to music by Anne-Maartje Lemereis, Composer of the Netherlands. Eric Borrias tells the story Erik or the little bug book. The school classes sing a total of four songs to match the different scenes of this beautiful story.
Music teacher Roel Vogel will provide two singing lessons at your school, allowing you to see the pupils' enjoyment of singing increase:
In the period between the singing lessons, the group teachers continue to practise classically so that the students can sing the songs properly during the festive performance.
The school will receive the following materials for this purpose:
Don't have a group teacher or music teacher who can give singing lessons at school? It is also possible to have the singing lessons given by an enthusiastic singing teacher of the International Song Festival Zeist. Singing teachers Lea Zantinge or Joëlle Ocheng will then give singing lessons in the period February-April 2026 five singing lessons at your school:
In the period between the singing lessons, your teacher will continue practising in class so that the pupils can sing the songs properly during the festive performance. Naturally, you will also receive the materials and support described above.
request invite
until Friday 11 July 2025
placement
Monday 14 to Friday 18 July 2025
school visit project management
project information and coordinating timetable of singing lessons at school
September - November 2025
additional singing lessons by singing teacher Lea Zantinge or Joëlle Ocheng (optional)
February - April 2026
start practising at one's own school
March 2026
first singing lesson by group by Roel Vogel
April 2026
second singing lesson with all participating groups together by Roel Vogel with Sjoerd Brouwer at the piano
Wednesday 13 or Wednesday 20 May 2026
school presentation A world full of insects
Wednesday 20 May, or 27 May, or Friday 29 May 2026
Participation in the school project costs €350 per school based on one or two participating groups. If several groups from the school participate, an additional € 175 will be charged per additional group. The cost for additional singing lessons in the period February-April 2026 is € 90 per singing lesson.
Registration is possible until by Friday 11 July 2025 by sending an email or calling project manager Tyche Jacobs: t.jacobs@ilfz.nl / 06 5535 6397. When registering, please indicate the number of groups you wish to participate with. There is room for a maximum of six schools. Placement is in order of entry. In the week of 14 to 18 July 2025 we will contact you about the placement.
Registration is possible until by Friday 11 July 2025 by sending an email or calling project manager Tyche Jacobs: t.jacobs@ilfz.nl / 06 5535 6397. When registering, please indicate the number of groups you wish to participate with. There is room for a maximum of six schools. Placement is in order of entry. In the week of 14 to 18 July 2025 we will contact you about the placement.
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