We are Alphonsuskoor, a community-based performing choir rooted in the liturgical life of Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk. Our choir has been singing at Mass for well over a century. In fact, the choir’s “official” founding date is May 1, 1881, when our parish choir joined the Dutch St. Gregory Association. We celebrated our 90th anniversary in 1971 and our 125th in 2006, thanks to generations of dedicated singers. Today we continue that legacy with weekly rehearsals and special liturgical projects. The choir is hoping to host a Gregorian schola (small chant ensemble) in the near future. Members of all skill levels are welcome to learn more about the repertoire.
1. the children's choir, aged 7 to 15
2. regular adult members, aged 16 and above
3. project adult members, aged 16 and above
The Alphonsuskoor is made up of more than 30 dedicated singers, guided by a professional conductor. From weekly rehearsals to solemn liturgies and festive concerts, the choir forms the musical heart of the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk in Amsterdam. Our repertoire blends Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, and both classical and modern settings, and continues to inspire audiences both in the church and beyond. Over the decades, the choir has both enriched local liturgy and represented Amsterdam’s sacred music tradition at concerts and collaborations across the country.
Meet our active choirmember for 77 years: Wim van Leeuwen
It was on a Sunday afternoon in May 1948 when a brother in a cassock rang the doorbell at my parents’ house. He had heard that there was a young boy living on the Elandsgracht who might be interested in joining the St. Alphonsus Boys’ Choir.
That brother was Brother Adolf from the Redemptorist Monastery next to the Church of Our Lady on the Keizersgracht. My parents had no objections, though they did ask that I be allowed to stop if I couldn’t sing or didn’t enjoy it. And so, at the age of eight, I joined the choir. That meant two rehearsals each week, and on Sundays, a High Mass in the morning and Vespers in the evening. The rehearsals took place in the Alfonsus Hall on the Prinsengracht.
from left to right:
Alex van der Wal, conductor Anton van Dalen
and Wim van Leeuwen, ca. 2003
The choir was then led by Chris Maas, who would later become a professor of musicology at the University of Amsterdam. Brother Adolf was always present, both during rehearsals and in the church, to keep the boys in line.
The repertoire included Gregorian chant and the classical polyphony of Palestrina and his contemporaries, as well as works by modern composers such as Goller, Haller, and Koenen, and by the Redemptorist Father Haagh and Brother Anselmus.
A highlight was the eight-part Mass in E minor by Anton Bruckner, performed on several occasions, including during the church’s centenary celebration.
With Louk Nelissen (1954–1955), the gap between classical polyphony and contemporary church music was bridged through the study of motets by Mozart.
Anton van Dalen (1955–2003) continued along this path, first with masses and motets by Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert, and later with works by Gounod and Puccini. A highlight under his direction was the 25th Liberation Anniversary Concert, featuring Mozart’s Requiem and Charpentier’s Te Deum.
In 1966, women joined the choir. As it became increasingly difficult to recruit boys, girls were admitted, marking the end of the choir’s exclusively boys-only era.
The Redemptorists’ initiative to introduce congregational singing in Dutch once a month was soon abandoned when it became clear that many parishioners then preferred attending services at “De Zaaier” on the Rozengracht.
In 1985, the Redemptorists left the church, which eventually came into the possession of the Syriac Orthodox Church. This required the choir to amend its regulations and become an independent association. When the new statutes were notarized, the name was changed from Sint Alfonsuskoor to Sint Alphonsuskoor. Pastoral care was thereafter provided by priests from Opus Dei.
At the initiative of Rector Steinkamp, missals from the Association for Latin Liturgy were acquired. Rector Van der Ploeg went a step further in supporting the Latin tradition by having the Passion sung in Latin during Holy Week.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the choir’s activities were severely restricted, and as my voice was no longer functioning optimally, I decided—reluctantly—to end my singing in 2023.
Boys Choir with Hubert Cuypers in middle centre ca. 1900
Brother Adolf CrrS. front right
Nr 33 is Wim van Leeuwen
ca. 1948
Boys Choir ca. 1930
Back row, from 2nd left to right : Brother Adolf CrrS., Wim Van Leeuwen, composer and conductor Anton Van Dalen
ca.1956
Nr8 is conductor Chris Maas
Nr9 is Brother Adolf CrrS.
ca. 1940
Nr32 Composer and conductor Anton van Dalen
Nr39 Wim van Leeuwen
ca. 1970
1881 pater W. Smit CssR
1881-1883 A. Kors
1883-1884 A. Ebbinkhuizen
1884-1894 pater Bogaerts CssR
1894-1911 Hubert Cuypers
1911-1913 broeder Anselmus CssR (C. Bonten)
1913-1918 Hubert Cuypers
1918-1928 Theo Ponten
1928-1944 Johan Huider
1944-1953 Chris Maas
1953-1954 Louis Schwirtz
1954-1955 Louk Nelissen
1955-2003 Anton van Dalen
2003-2010 Erik-Jan Eradus
2011-2012 David Boos
2012-2017 Erik-Jan Eradus
2018-2024 Nicholas Papadimitriou
2024- Una Cintina
In 1981, Alphonsuskoor marked its 100th anniversary. From the very beginning, the choir has been dedicated to true sacred music, such as Gregorian chants and classical polyphonic works, offering a counterbalance to the popular theatrical style of its time. Around 1900, conductor Hubert Cuypers gave the choir a major artistic boost: he composed numerous sacred works and raised the ensemble to a high level, with performances even at the Concertgebouw — a testament to the choir’s esteemed reputation. Over the years, the Saint Alphonsus Choir has remained faithful to its musical tradition, skillfully bridging classical and contemporary church music, and thus maintaining its cherished and significant place in Amsterdam’s musical life.
Hubert Cuypers
Next year, the choir will proudly celebrate its 145th anniversary. This occasion highlights both the historical depth of Alphonsuskoor and its ongoing vitality. The celebration will feature a special program of sacred music and a series of community events, reaffirming the choir’s place as a vibrant and cherished part of Amsterdam’s musical and spiritual life. Full of optimism and happy expectations, the choir looks ahead to the years to come, ready to continue its living tradition with energy and hope.
Photo: Jan Schut and Jip Vogel
Our Children’s Choir (ages ~ 7–15) was launched to nurture young voices in church music. In weekly rehearsals the kids learn basic music reading, rhythm and performance skills – all in a joyful, supportive setting. Singing in a choir is about more than notes: research shows it broadens emotional expression, improves respiratory health, and builds teamwork and confidence. We focus the children’s choir on seasonal repertoire (e.g. Christmas pieces) so they can contribute to our festive masses and concerts, while experiencing the joy of communal singing.
For many, these projects are a first step into our world of Gregorian chant and sacred choral music. They let you sing alongside experienced members, discover the beauty of the repertoire, and experience the thrill of performing in the inspiring setting of the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk.
Whether you are a curious beginner or a seasoned singer looking for a meaningful musical project, joining one of our special initiatives could be the beginning of a deeper connection with Alphonsuskoor — and perhaps even a path into our main choir.
Not everyone starts in the main choir — and that’s perfectly fine. Our Special projects offer a welcoming way to get involved with Alphonsuskoor without needing years of choir experience. These short-term projects bring singers, musicians, and friends together around a specific piece or event, such as a festive Mass, a seasonal concert, or a community collaboration.
Una Cintiņa is organist, conductor, and music director at the Church of Our Lady in Amsterdam. Born in Jūrmala, Latvia, into a family of musicians, she began her musical journey at an early age, singing in folk groups and playing the kokle, a traditional Latvian instrument. At just fourteen, she received her first appointment as organist at the Bulduri Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jūrmala, marking the beginning of a career deeply rooted in church music and performance.
She studied at the Riga Cathedral Choir School, graduating in choir singing (1998) and church music (2001) under Vita Kalnciema. She continued her studies at the Latvian Academy of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, earning Bachelor and Master degrees in organ and choral conducting under the guidance of Sigvards Kļava, Prof. Tālivaldis Deksnis, and Jacques van Oortmerssen. She has further refined her artistry through international masterclasses with Ton Koopman, Ludger Lohman, Hans Fagius, Joel Speersta and Louis Robilliard amongst others.
Una’s concert programs are known for their thematic and carefully curated approach: each performance tells a story, bringing together works from different centuries that illuminate a central idea or emotion. She is equally at home performing early repertoire as she is premiering contemporary works, and regularly collaborates with other art forms.
She is an active performer at New Music festivals, often premiering new compositions. In 2020 she released The Hands of Time, a CD with works for organ and percussion in collaboration with Georgi Tsenov. In 2021 she participated in a recording with the Amstel Saxophone Quartet dedicated to Latvian composer Georgs Pelēcis, and in 2023 she recorded chamber music by contemporary Latvian composers together with her brother, violinist Indulis Cintiņš.
As a conductor, Una is highly valued for her ability to teach and inspire singers of all levels, from children and amateur choirs to advanced ensembles. She has led numerous choirs, building their confidence, skills, and sense of musical identity. At the same time, she is an experienced professional, working seamlessly with orchestras, soloists, and ensembles in large-scale concert and liturgical settings.
Sacred music holds a special place in her artistry. With profound knowledge of liturgical traditions and a deep sensitivity to the role of music in worship, Una combines professionalism with spiritual insight, creating performances that are both artistically refined and meaningful.
A passionate advocate for Latvian and contemporary music, Una seeks to expand the repertoire and introduce audiences to both underrepresented voices of the 20th century and living composers of today. She believes it is the responsibility of performers not only to preserve the great works of the past, but also to shape the musical canon of the future by giving a platform to new creations.
We are Alphonsuskoor, a community-based performing choir rooted in the liturgical life of Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk. Our choir has been singing at Mass for well over a century.
