The European Music Festival for Young People started quite modestly in 1953 as a local event and gradually developed thanks to its highly appreciated musical level into the big, prestigious, friendly and most beloved youth music festival in Europe. Priest Jan Coninx, a local teacher had a huge social commitment and was very concerned about the lacuna in the musical education of the youth. Youngsters were inspired to make music, to perform for one another and to listen to each other. This way, the first vocal festival started in 1953, followed by an instrumental edition in 1954. Already during the second vocal edition in 1955 the first foreign participants from the Netherlands came to Neerpelt followed by German youngsters the year after. The first huge European break-through came in 1964 when youngsters from France, Denmark, Portugal and Austria registered. Two years later, in 1966, the first Eastern European choirs came from Czechoslovakia and Hungary. The festival used to play a very big role in bridging the iron curtain. The very best of Eastern Europe groups could meet Western Europe in Neerpelt. The European Music Festival for Young People was the pre-eminent platform where East and West could meet each other. The first double festival for choirs as well as for instrumental ensembles was celebrated in 1977 during the 25th anniversary. This initiative of a double festival was repeated in 1985, the UNO international year for youngsters and the European year for the music, proclaimed by the Council of Europe. Thanks to these festivities the festival could welcome a royal visit. In 1994, 1995 and 1996 the festival was awarded the title of “Cultural Ambassador of Flanders”. In 2008 the European Music Festival for Young People received as first Belgian organisation the European Citizen’s Award by the European Parliament. The 50th anniversary of the festival, in 2002, still is engraved in everybody’s memory. About 8.000 youngsters from more than 20 countries found their way to our festival. In Neerpelt, a European Unity has already existed for a very long time, way before Europe could start its European Union. A detailed track record of the festival is added. The mission of the European Music Festival for Young People in Neerpelt is as follows: The festival wants to be for youngsters from different cultures the epicentre where they can meet and appreciate one another through music. - From different cultures: a) Respect youngsters in their own dignity b) Give youngsters the possibility to tell the story of their own culture - Epicentre: a) The festival is a musical earthquake with its centre in Neerpelt and with vibrations spread over Europe and even over the world. - Music: a) Music is the central issue. - Meet: a) Youngsters have to be able to make music, to relax and to have fun together. - Appreciate: a) The musical performances will be valued by an international professional jury. This evaluation stimulates and encourages youngsters to continue their musical career. The main objective, resulting from the complex mission of the festival, can be outlined as follows. The European Music Festival for Young People offers possibilities to perform, spreads the Flemish music in Europe, exchanges European music and culture all over Europe and even the world, accomplishes cultural and social exchanges and promotes the fraternization between youngsters from all over Europe by the motto: “Alle Menschen werden Brüder”. The European Music Festival for Young People effectively builds along at the European idea of integration of Europe. Every year thousands of youngsters come to Neerpelt to accomplish and to expand this objective. At our festival youngsters find a stage on which they can show their musical achievements. An international and professional jury provides every participant a positive and motivating report. This report can and will be used to improve their musical abilities. Besid ...