page_title: Hans Vonk (conductor)
section_title: Final years
hierarchical_section_title: Hans Vonk (conductor) / Final years
caption_attribution_description: English: Hans Vonk Music House, 23 Hillside Court, South Spreyton, Tasmania
context_page_description: Hans Vonk was a Dutch conductor.
context_section_description: In March 2002, Vonk was named chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Symphony (NRSO).  He held the post for the 2003-2004 season, and was the orchestra's last chief conductor before its disbandment.  His illness had debilitated him to the point that he conducted several NRSO concerts from a wheelchair.  On 29 August 2004, Vonk died in his Amsterdam home and is buried in that city under the epitaph (in English):
  Music was his life.
  Now it brings us
  Solace and serenity.
  Luuk Reurich wrote a biography of Vonk, Hans Vonk, Een dirigentenleven (Hans Vonk, A Conductor's Life), published in 2006.  Vonk's recordings are on the Chandos and Denon labels, among others, and include two CDs of the Dutch composer Alphons Diepenbrock. Vonk was regarded as a specialist in the music of Anton Bruckner as well as an advocate of the music of Peter Schat, including conducting the world premiere of Schat's stage work Houdini.
  Vonk is survived by his widow, Jessie, who moved to Tasmania after her husband's death. In his memory she built the Hans Vonk Music House which began to host chamber music recitals in 2010.
caption: Hans Vonk Music House
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