It is still warm outside, the sun is shining brightly and the garden is still in full bloom. Summer seems far from over, and yet... We are getting excited again: October is slowly but surely approaching, which means we can look forward to the start of a new season of Sunday Afternoon Jazz at Wester-Amstel. Something wonderful to look forward to: new jazz concerts performed by wonderful jazz musicians.
- 5 October 2025: Mirjam van Dam
- 2 November 2025: Masha Bijlsma
- 7 December 2025: Ineke Vandoorn & Marc van Vugt
- 1 februari 2026: Anne Chris & Maurice Rugebregt
- 1 March 2026: Petra de Winter Chabliz
- 5 April 2026: Fleurine & friends
- 7 juni 2026: Joep Grotendorst & Kwartet
Jazz at Wester-Amstel: Mirjam van Dam (5 October 2025)
We are extremely pleased that Mirjam van Dam kicks off on 5 October this year. Mirjam is an enthusiastic singer and director. After completing her studies, she sang in various theatre, jazz, big band and other ensembles. She toured the Netherlands and Asia with Laura Fygi, created a musical performance about the life of Ella Fitzgerald, and collaborated with Jetta Starreveld and Monique de Adelhardt Toorop on two performances about music during the Second World War: Door de Nacht klinkt een Lied (Through the Night a Song Sounds) and Hoor de Vrouwen Zingen (Hear the Women Sing). Mirjam is the regular singer with The Happy Feet Orchestra and The Jewish Jazz Band and sings with the vocal group Four Voices. Her album Luister eens (Listen) has been received with many compliments. On this album (together with pianist Lex Jasper), she sings Dutch-language jazz standards. Frits Spits already praised it: What is good remains good. On 5 October, Mirjam will show us that these are not empty words!
Exhibition of paintings by Bill Admiraal
Just like last year, on the first Sunday afternoon of the month, we will be focusing not only on music but also on other forms of art. On 5 October, we will be showcasing the paintings of Bill Admiraal. He has this to say about his paintings:
I paint to discover myself. Sometimes also to hold on to something.. I can't sit anywhere without looking at my surroundings or observing people and searching for what makes them unique. Sometimes I lie awake because I'm painting something in my head.
One example of this is Sunbathing. I conceived this painting when I saw a photograph of three women in Tiananmen Square. I had to bring them into my own world. That is what painting does to you: you create your own world, and what the viewer makes of it always remains a surprise.
The 2025 – 2026 season promises to be another fantastic musical event. So, despite the lovely sunny days we are still enjoying, we are very much looking forward to October 2025 and hope to see you there again.
On 2 November 2025, Masha Bijlsma Band at Wester-Amstel and on 7 December we welcome Ineke vandoorn en Marc Van Vught.
Het programma voor de komende maanden ziet er als volgt uit: in maart treedt Petra de Winter op, in april Fleurine. In mei hebben we in verband met de vakanties zoals gewoonlijk geen concert maar in juni speelt op de Amstellanddag Joep Grotendorst, winnaar van het Prinses Christina Jeugd Concours.
Are you excited too? Mark all the dates in your diary! Tickets will be available one month prior to the concert via ticketkantoor.nl/shop/westeramstel. The price of a regular admission ticket is €22.50, but as you know, if you become a Friend of Wester-Amstel, you pay only €17.50. That way, your membership of the Friends of Wester-Amstel earned back quickly at €12.50 per year. Many friends have already joined, will you join too?
By: Herma De Heer