The goal of the orchestra is to have children and young adults play music together in an atmosphere of friendship and companionship.  Throughout her history the orchestra has performed several times on the European Music Festival for Young People in Neerpelt Belgium, taking home First prize Cum Laude.  July 2005 saw the first participation of the Orchestra at the World Music Contest at Kerkrade (The Netherlands) immediately taking second place in a highly battled field of adult orchestras.  July 2009 proved that this achievement wasn’t a one day fly taking home the bronze medal again in Third Section.
The Orchestra has made concert trips to Music festivals in Europe, including Rostock, Vöcklabruck and Estland and now in 2010 they are visiting the Music Festival at Schladming.

The Orchestra is currently under the direction of Kevin Houben, a talented conductor and composer.

Homepage:  www.harmonie-peer.com

As a freelance musician and conductor, Kevin Houben is. He also works as teacher for brass, chamber music and hafabra conducting in the academies of Mol, Genk and Neerpelt. (Belgium)
Kevin Houben composes for diverse orchestral occupations. Since 2001, he only works on commission. His oeuvre comprises works for solo instrument, brass quintet, brass ensemble, wind orchestra, fanfare-orchestra, brass band and symphonic orchestra.

In 2003, he won the Sabam and the public's prize at the "2ième Concours International de composition pour orchestre a vent de Comines-Warneton" for "Arcana".
 
He won the "3rd European Composer's Competition 2006 European Brass Band Association" in Belfast (Northern Ireland) in april 2006.

Working as a guest conductor and recordings of his works have brought him in various countries such as Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Luxembourg, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan. He is frequently asked for play-in projects, guest conductor and jury at solist, ensemble and orchestral competitions in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Education

Studied Piano from the age of 6; Master degree for trumpet, hafabra-conducting, symphonic-conducting, chambermusic, counterpoint, polyfonie, composition

Teachers

Trumpet: Leon Pétré
Composition: Jan Van der Roost, Jan Haderman
Chambermusic: Leo Ouderits
Conducting: Edmond Saveniers

Prizes

Winner of Sabam and audience prize of the “2nd Concours International de composition pour orchestre a vent de Comines-Warneton 2003” with his work ARCANA. (windband)

First Prize of the European Brassband composition contest in 2006 with his work ARCANA. (brassband)

Random

He only writes in commissions and he’s know working on his first musical assignement. He works as a music teacher (trumpet, conducting, chambermusic)

He conducts two bands: Brassband Retie and Kon. Fanfare Sint-Jozefsgilde Mol-Sluis
www.brassbandretie.be
www.fanfaremolsluis.net

He’s also frequently asked as member of the jury and guestconductor.

All his compositions and CD recordings are published by De Haske International.
www.dehaske.com

Homepage: www.kevinhouben.be