The Frysk Fanfare Orchestra of The Netherlands comprises some 60 players, hailing from all over the province of Friesland. They vary in age from 14 and 36, and their musical skills range from good amateurs to conservatory graduates. The Frysk Fanfare Orchestra’s main aim is to promote old and new original fanfare band music in the broadest possible sense. Important Dutch composers, including Bernard van Beurden, Frans Vermeerssen, Alexander Comitas alias Ed de Boer, Cornelis de Bondt, and Leon Vliex, have composed works for the band. 

The Frysk Fanfare Orchestra, which was founded in 1983, has taken part in many festivals and competitions, invariably winning a first prize, often with distinction. High points in the orchestra’s history include winning first prizes at the 1985 World Music Contest, at an international contest at Rastede, Germany in 1988, the highest distinction at a competition celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the World Music Contest Foundation in 1991, and winning the championship in the Fanfare Band Concert Division at the Kerkrade World Music Contest in 1989 and 1993. In 1995, the Frysk Fanfare Orchestra won first prize in the Open Dutch Championships in the Concert Division, Fanfare Band Section at Kerkrade. In 1999 the band won its second championship there. The Frysk Fanfare Orchestra has produced numberous CDs and made many recordings for radio and television programs. The orchestra also made concert tours to Austria, Belgium, Germany, England, Portugal, and the USA. This summer the band is planning a concert tour through Estonia.

Jourke Hoekstra has been the Orchestra’s conductor since its founding. After studying the trumpet with Theo Laanen and Anne Bijlsma and orchestral conducting with Peet van Bruggen at the Conservatories of The Hague and Groningen, he played solo trumpet with the Dutch Royal Military Band for twelve years. He currently teaches small brass instruments at the music school of Bolsward, Friesland and is also conductor of the fanfare orchestra “Oranje” Minnertsga. He is an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician for festivals and contests.