Lift-Off Open Air Concert July 21st 2012: TOP ENTERTAINMENT! The first Lift-Off Open Air Concert was a big success. The weather was nice, the Square was filled with fans. We even spotted fans from Germany and Belgium! A lot of colleagues from the Johann Strauss Orchestra were in the audience to support their friends. Except for a few seats on the terraces besides the Square, all fans had to stand up all night, from 8 PM to 1 AM, which becomes tough on a certain age! Lift- Off started at 10 PM with a super show. We were blown away by the quality and the variety of the music pieces. In total 15 to 20 persons performed on stage. Of course Marcel Falize and his sons Glenn, Dean and Colin. Familiar JSO members: Ward, Franco, Ruud, Lin, Sanne, Roger. And musicians we did not know yet: Richard Hofland, André Falize, Sander Frissen, Zoë Lenssen, Emmely Wutzke. We enjoyed several solos by the multi talented musicians, for instance Colin Falize, percussion and solo singer, Sanne, saxophone and solo singer (Madonna’s “Like a virgin”), Ruud, trombone and solo singer (“Ai se eu te Pego” and “Sweet Caroline”), Emmely, solo singer, Lin, violin solo, Roger trumpet solo, Marcel percussion, but he also played the trombone. A big surprise was the performance of the new upcoming generation: Oscar Merx (11) singing a Dutch tear jerker (My dear grandma), and Romano Diederen (11) accompanying him on the trumpet! They are super talented children, born and raised in musical families!! A big surprise was also the break dance group and the special effects: coloured lights, fire balls, mist, inflatable swaying pillars, confetti stripes and a lot of fireworks. Well, we can say from the bottom of our heart: We are fans! Our tickets for the Theatre Concert in Heerlen on December 29, 2012 are in the pocket!! Congratulations Marcel & Co!!

THE CONCERT Below a video impression of the concert. Our apologies for some anomalies in the sound, we may have stood too close to a load speaker. Enjoy this spectacular performance. (Note: due to the size of the video it may take some moments before it will play)

We found more biographies on the Lift-Off website in 2012: ZOE LENSSEN. Biography I'm Zoë Lenssen, born March 6, 1991 in Heerlen.  From the age of eight I play guitar. I started with classical guitar, but I did not like that. The training material was so dry and I really wanted to "make music", jamming along with the songs on the radio.  From my 11th I started to experience with electric guitar, with special preference to play rhythm guitar. Guitar as a hobby became a passion. Now I play acoustic, electric,  jazz and 12 strings guitar with incredible enthusiasm. I also find it a challenge to compose my own music/songs.  Great was my joy when Marcel asked me to join in Lift Off. An incredible opportunity to participate and play in such an experienced team. My baptism of fire were the concerts in December 2011, which were two unforgettable days. EMMELY WUTZKE.biography. I am Emmely Wutzke, born March 4, 1991 in Leiden. My whole life I have been involved with music. Never a quiet moment at my house, the radio was always on with someone to sing, whistle or hum. I listened to the songs that I liked about a hundred times in a row, until I could sing along every word. At the age of ten I started to play the recorder, followed by clarinet. Although I enjoyed it, my passion was not in this instrument. Mostly I sang at home where nobody could hear me. In the summer of 2011 Zoë and I got the idea of ​​making music together. We enjoyed playing music and singing, when Marcel heard us play through the open window. When Zoë phoned me that we should come on audition to join the Lift Off concert in December, I was surprised, shocked and very happy. To join such a group of experienced musicians made ​​it even more special. ROGER DIEDEREN. (Trumpetplayer in Johann Strauss Orchestra) Roger Diederen was born and raised in a musical family. At a young age he started to play his father's bugle. Soon he participated in competitions. He went on studying trumpet music, and in 1987 he was admitted to the trumpet education at the conservatory in Maastricht. During this period he experienced a lot with different music styles including chamber- and brass ensembles. He regularly joined symphony orchestras in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Also, he provided assistance to very many CD recordings in these various musical genres. In 1993 he graduated on trumpet in Maastricht. During this period he came into contact with André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra.  In the beginning he worked freelance in this orchestra, which eventually degenerated into a permanent job. Since 1994, he travels with nice colleagues over the world and enjoys it every day. RICHARD HOFLAND, DJ. I was eleven years old, as my parents opened their own café. I was fascinated by the work of DJs. When the café was closed. I secretly sneaked behind the equipment. It was late 80's, the upcoming time of the CDs. After having practiced a few more years I played during the carnival celebrations.  Nowadays you can find me as a DJ at FF Others in Brunssum. In the various theme nights and regular Saturday nights I find the right music. Limits are hardly to be found. From modern music to German Schlager Songs, everything will pass. With Lift Off I like to mix different musical styles. The public will be diverse and as a DJ you adapt to it. ANDRE FALIZE, trumpet. He is Marcel’s brother. SANDER FRISSEN, percussion. No biography available.

More about Lift-Off 2012, click HERE.