text: Toon Pans (Chairman Marnixring Mechelen)
Jo Haazen is a remarkable and passionate musician who dedicated the greater part of his successful career to the Flemish instrument par excellence: the carillon. Marnixring Internationale Serviceclub will therefore present the Marnixring Honorary Badge to Mr. Jo Haazen on Saturday, October 16, 2021 in Mechelen.
Marnixring Internationale Serviceclub (MRIS) aims to serve the Dutch language and cultural community by:
- promoting and furthering the Dutch language and culture
- encouraging friendship and service among its members regardless of their philosophical and political convictions
- promoting solidarity, mutual understanding and peace through the ideal of serviceability
Each year, MRIS honors a natural or legal person who is not a member of MRIS and who has made outstanding contributions in the spirit of the aforementioned objectives. This year this honor goes to Flemish musician and renowned carillonneur Jo Haazen.
The laureate
It is impossible to outline Jo Haazen's entire career in just a few lines, but here is a limited summary of a number of important achievements and prizes from his well-filled career:
- In 1966 – 1968: First laureate of the 8th, 9th and 10th International Carillon Contest of the Holland Festival in Hilversum.
- In 1968 – 1981: City carillonneur in Antwerp.
- In 1973: Archaeological assistant, excavations at the Cathedral of Our Lady, commissioned by the Province of Antwerp.
- In 1980: University of California, Berkeley (USA) - "Honors of Music".
- In 1981 – 2009: City carillonneur in Mechelen.
- In 1981 – 2010: Director of the world-renowned Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn".
- In 2000: 'Pro Pace et Unitate, e meritu et honoris causa' admitted to the European Senate of Honor (BVSE-UEF).
- In 2003: Appointed as titular carillonneur of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg.
- In 2004: Honorary diploma awarded by the city of Saint Petersburg.
- In 2004: Distinction "Order of Friendship" awarded by Vladimir Putin for his "unique contribution to the revival of musical traditions in the Peter and Paul Fortress in Saint Petersburg that were established there by Tsar Peter the Great".
- In 2005: Presentation of the Silver Medal in Luxembourg by the European Merit Foundation "For his important activities in favor of Europe".
- In 2006 – 2021: Professor at the Faculty of Arts of the State University in Saint Petersburg (department of organ, harpsichord and carillon).
- Since 2006: Guest lecturer at the Faculty of Comparative Religious Studies (FVG-VUB) in Antwerp.
- In 2009: Award of the Christoffel Plantin Prize, a distinction awarded to persons who have made a special contribution to Belgium's recognition abroad.
- In 2012: Honored with a Gold Label by Klassiek Centraal (the web newspaper for classical music lovers).
- In 2012: Appointed Commandeur in the Order of the Crown by King Albert II.
- In 2015: Award of the 8th Gaston Feremans Prize by Marnixring Mechelen Gaston Feremans in Mechelen.
INFO:
- Saturday, October 16, 2021 from 10 a.m. – Salons Van Dijck
- Laudatio: Mr. Jan Jambon, Flemish Minister-President and Minister of Culture
Registration is mandatory before October 5, 2021
- for the academic session and reception only (free): email info@mrnoordrand.org stating the number of persons.
- for the academic session, reception and friends' dinner via email info@mrnoordrand.org stating the number of persons and payment before October 10, 2021 of € 55/pp to account BE61 7340 1623 8617 of Marnixring Noordrand with mention 'friends' dinner, first name and surname'.