There are times when this small island does indeed seem like the two nations that it is. Case in point, Dr. Charles Vangeenderhuysen lives and works on the French side, deeply immersed in the culture and service to the community, speaking primarily French and rarely coming to the Dutch side. WEEKender was able to interview this interesting gentleman and to share some of his story with the help of friend and interpreter Eduardo Teddy Moroder.
Vangeenderhuysen works long days at Centre Hospitalier Louis Constant Fleming, where he specializes in gynaecology and performs forensic investigations when called upon to assist the Gendarmerie at active crime scenes. Such a career would surely keep most of us fully occupied, but in addition to his medical expertise and, of course, his lovely wife Claire, Charles has a second passion: he creates choirs, guides and directs their musical performances, inspiring a diverse group of singers to blend their voices in complex harmonies and rhythms. The result is a mutually-shared sense of peace and joy, an antidote to the routines of daily pressures.
The singers of the choir known as “Charlie Par Choeur” meet each Wednesday at Pianissimo Music School on Rue de Republique in Marigot at 7:30pm. The ensemble is a collection of men and women, sitting in their groups of soprano, alto, tenor and bass – some with advanced musical training, others with little more than a desire to sing. The repertoire of the choir is chosen by Charles, and embraces genres from classical to jazz, and a smattering of folk songs from around the globe.
