Kimmy Skota sings for concert barn. Sixty to eighty visitors will be able to enjoy the compositions of Bellini and Lehar in the living room and the kitchen of the farmhouse. That differs somewhat from the 15,000 people for whom Kimmy normally performs, but she told me that she is now more nervous than ever before. Well, you're literally an arm's length away from the audience. Veronika Jong regularly organizes concerts at the farm where she usually provides a safe and normal home for eight to ten foster children. Famous (Rieu) artists are regularly singing and playing at the farm. Her foster children learn to play musical instruments like the violin while twenty ponies graze happily on the farm where soprano Kimmy Skota will be singing on Sunday to contribute towards the renovation of the concert barn. Earlier, the Brazilian opera star, Carla Maffioletti, who is famous for her performance of (opera) arias, sang there and the farm has also hosted jazz combos, folk groups and comedians. It can all be attributed to Jong’s philosophy that music is an essential part of education. Her foster children are all allowed to take music lessons (violin, piano). “For many it is their first encounter with live music. They have often never owned a real instrument in the homes they come from. Here they learn about the beauty and importance of music. Music literally makes you smart and by acting, you learn to present a group yourself.” This is nice, but the question remains as to how Jong manages to persuade reputable artists to perform at her farm? The answer lies with her ​​own daughter, Alina-Lin Jong (40), being a violinist in the orchestra of André Rieu and travelling around the world with him for many years. Add to this her son-in-law, Ruud Merx, musician, composer, trombonist with Rieu and ambassador of the foundation Muziek maakt slim (Music makes clever). They live in the same 'world' as Kimmy Skota and Carla Maffioletti. “And André Rieu has been a patron of the organization Op Herme since the beginning of this year,” Veronika says proudly. Formally a refuge for old ponies, the farm is now also home to several abandoned young pigs, chickens and cats. “You will not believe it but sometimes orphaned animals are literally thrown over the fence (usually chickens). When you enter the bike shed, you suddenly encounter a previously abandoned pregnant pony.... People think that Veronika knows what to do with these animals. ”The contact with Rieu himself dates from a few years back when he had to make recordings between animals.  Eventually the recordings for French TV were made at Jong’s farm instead of at the famous Gaia Park (zoo in Kerkrade, Limburg). The presence of the horses and other animals are not coincidental. According to the farm’s website “living with animals has proved to have positive therapeutic effects on most children, especially those who have been damaged by a difficult past.” On Sunday, March 1st, 2014 a jubilee concert will be held at the farm (3 PM), because the foundation Op Herme is 25 years old. Apart from soprano Kimmy Skota, there will also be musical moments with Alina- Lin and Ruud Merx. The entrance fee is €10, but Veronika prefers to leave the size of their contributions to the visitors themselves. “There is a (milk) churn at the door in which people can put their donations. Apart from caring for the children and animals, we are planning to work with the municipality of Leudal (town in Limburg), the provincial government and Monument Preservation, to renovate one of the barns so it can be converted to a concert barn. It will be used for the children’s music lessons, but also for the presentation of concerts on a regular basis to enable more people to enjoy the performances of the top musicians who perform here without charging for their services. "The foundation Op Herme has been in existence for 25 years.Veronika Jong has a large foster family and a refuge for retired horses. Concerts and performances are regularly held at the farm in Ell (Limburg).The proceeds are devoted to, amongst other things, music lessons for the children and the renovation of the concert barn.

KIMMY SKOTA With a brilliant performance of Casta Diva from the Opera "Norma"  by Vincenzo Bellini. December 2012.