20+ jaar TOEAC

Transparency & monumentality

With two accordions, one can speak of a rich, orchestral palette. Pieternel Berkers and Renée Bekkers produce sounds like winds, strings and singers.

As masters of their instruments, they revisit familiar pieces with their own arrangements, delighting the connoisseur of the repertoire by the transparency and the monumentality.

They often happily challenge composers to create exciting new work together.

Intimate & Adventurous

The press writes about “jealous-making sleight of hand, musical insight and a good deal of guts”. TOEAC takes complete freedom for a wonderful experience. With the most beautiful music from the Baroque, Romantic, Contemporary and Tango, programs are full of contrasts. Intimate or expressive, always adventurous.

TOEAC Productions

In addition to concerts, TOEAC initiates and produces musical theater performances. The musical story is expanded by eagerly taking on dance, film, circus or theater, and the accordions are living characters. After TOEAC Pictures, Petrushka, Pas de Deux and Fairly Tales, an extensive tour of Blood Coral with actor Jack Wouterse followed. Sliekem Song of Solomon will premiere in 2025, starring actors Ariane Schluter and Ali Ben Horsting.

TOEAC Connects

Pieternel and Renée are an infectious duo who effortlessly take you into their world. Festival-goers, primary school children and recipients of the “Heart Under the Belt” concerts have also been embracing TOEAC's spontaneous and extremely exciting presentations for over 20 years.

International Festivals

TOEAC gives concerts at home and abroad, including Indonesia, China, France, Denmark, Czech Republic, Poland and Turkey. At festivals, they are often the 'surprise act': Kultur im Kreis, Rheingau Festival, Musikfestspiele Potsdam (Germany), Vancouver Music Festival, Usine-C Montreal (Canada), Aardklopfestival (South Africa), Terem Festival (Russia), Cheltenham Festival (United Kingdom), Airbag Festival, Festival van Vlaanderen (Belgium), LongLake Festival (Italy) and in the Netherlands, among others, the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, Wonderfeel and Oranjewoud.

Collaborations

In their own musical theater productions, TOEAC collaborates with Ria Marks, Peer Wittenbols, Jack Wouterse, Karel de Rooij, Regina van Berkel, Kader Abdolah, Percossa, Marc Krone and Strijbos van Rijswijk, among others. They have premiered compositions by Anthony Fiumara, Chiel Meijering, Gerard Beljon, Benjamin de Murashkin, Nikos Ioakeim and Christos Farmakis, among others.

Awards

TOEAC won prizes at the NOVAM Accordion Competition, the Princess Christina Competition, Grand Prix International (France), Premio Internazionale della Fisarmonica (Italy), and final prizes at the Grachtenfestival Conservatory Competition, Dutch Classical Talent and the Legatkonkurrence (Denmark), among others.

Studying & Teaching

Renée Bekkers and Pieternel Berkers have been a duo since 2002. They studied at Fontys University of the Arts and obtained their Masters at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with professors Geir Draugsvoll and James Crabb. In 2015, TOEAC completed the soloist course in Copenhagen. Pieternel Berkers and Renée Bekkers both teach at Fontys University of the Arts.