Lassenne Vocale
Chamber Choir in Brussels
Lassenne Vocale seeks to bring the rich tradition of choral music to diverse audiences.
Weaving Tradition and Modernity in Choral Artistry
ABOUT lassenne vocale
WHO WE ARE
Lassenne Vocale is a committed international chamber choir based in Brussels, bringing together passionate singers from over 20 nationalities. More than just a choir, it offers a warm, family-like community where musical excellence meets human connection.
Founded by Ivan Yohan in 2016 and born from the collaboration of talented instrumentalists from the Brussels Royal Conservatories, Lassenne Vocal reflects the rich and diverse cultural fabric of Brussels. The ensemble is named after the underground river flowing beneath the city — symbolizes the harmonious interplay between tradition and innovation that defines Brussels’ identity, both musically and culturally, and it is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
A VOCAL ENSEMBLE ROOTED IN EXCELLENCE
Lassenne Vocale remains dedicated to exploring a wide range of choral works, from the intricate polyphony of the Renaissance to contemporary compositions. The ensemble is dedicated to musical precision, artistic expression, and meaningful interpretation.
Through collaborations both in Belgium and internationally, the choir actively contributes to the vibrant choral scene and brings high-quality performances to diverse audiences.
conductor
Ivan yohan
Ivan Yohan pursued classical singing and choral conducting at Utrecht Conservatory, learning from esteemed mentors such as Henny Diemer and Rob Vermeulen. Ivan’s training included a student exchange in Lithuania with Vytautas Miškinis and Algirdas Janutas, further honing his skills in vocal performance and conducting. In Indonesia, he directed the Parahyangan Catholic University Choir (PCUC), achieving notable accolades such as first prize at the 51st International Choir Competition in Spittal an der Drau, Austria. He has received prestigious conducting awards, including the “Special Award for Excellent Conducting Performance” in Debrecen, Hungary, and the “Best Conductor Award” in Jurmala, Latvia. He collaborates with Le Concert Spirituel under Hervé Niquet, performs with the Ghent Singers, and has led the Moroccan Philharmonic Choir. As a composer, his works have been performed globally, with notable publications and the first prize for “Après un Rêve” at Florilège Vocal de Tours 2011.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Ten years ago, Lassenne Vocale began with a simple ambition: to explore the richness of choral music with curiosity, creativity, and a spirit of collaboration. This concert launches our 10th anniversary season—not by looking back, but by celebrating the music that continues to inspire us and the artistic path still unfolding ahead.
The program journeys through a kaleidoscope of choral voices, where moments of reflection and compassion give way to radiant light, vibrant color, and exuberant celebration. Alongside music by composers such as Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Pēteris Vasks, and Elaine Hagenberg, we are delighted to present works by Jevgeņijs Ustinskovs and Gonçalo Lourenço, bringing fresh perspectives and distinctive musical languages to the evening.
The program then takes a playful turn with John Rutter’s sparkling Birthday Madrigals, before concluding with Hagenberg’s By Night—a vivid, cinematic work for choir, violin, cello, piano, and percussion that captures the mystery, beauty, and boundless possibilities of the night.
As the first concert in our anniversary series, this evening celebrates not only a milestone, but also the excitement of discovering new music, forging new collaborations, and continuing to share unforgettable musical experiences together.
Date: December 12, 2026
Place: Chapelle du Sacré-Cœur de Lindthout, 1210 Woluwe-St-Lambert
Time: 8.00pm
CONFLUENCE – WHERE VOICES MEET
Two choirs, two musical identities, and a shared fascination with the many shades of the human voice.
In this collaboration, Lassenne Vocale and Chœur Kosmopolis bring together a richly varied programme spanning languages, cultures, and musical traditions. From the sacred intimacy of Pau Casals’s O vos omnes, Ola Gjeilo’s Ubi Caritas, and Jevgeņijs Ustinskovs’s Stabat Mater to the luminous colours of Eric Whitacre’s Lux aurumque and Pēteris Vasks’s Māte Saule, Lassenne Vocale’s programme moves between contemplation, mystery, nature, and light.
Chœur Kosmopolis responds with its own musical journey across Europe and beyond: Catalan, French, Spanish, Hungarian, Slovenian, Finnish, and English voices meet in works by Josep Ollé i Sabaté, Francis Poulenc, Carlos Guastavino, Maurice Ravel, Zoltán Kodály, Andrej Makor, Charles Villiers Stanford, and Jussi Chydenius. Birds return as a recurring image, from El cant dels ocells and Ravel’s Trois beaux oiseaux du paradis to Stanford’s The Blue Bird, while the programme also explores the quiet worlds of evening and night.
Date: December 13, 2026
Place: Église Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur. Rue de Tervaete 24. 1040 Etterbeek
Time: 8.00pm
Click here to see more of our upcoming event
Romantische Liebeslieder, Spring 2027
Choir Trip to Setúbal, Portugal, Spring 2027
Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Autumn 2027
what our collaborators say
“It has been a pleasure to work closely with Ivan Yohan, the director of Lassenne Vocale in Brussels, once again. At proyectoeLe, we are very grateful for the warm welcome and are confident that our partnership will continue. We are bringing back home unforgettable memories of Belgium.”
Carlos Cansino Pérez, conductor & composer
“Two years ago, VU Chamber Orchestra and the Lassenne Vocale choir delivered a concert of exceptionally high artistic level, performing Dobrogosz Mass! It was a huge honor to welcome such an outstanding choir to Vilnius –
the choir and orchestra created an unforgettable spiritual celebration. I hope we collaborate again soon!”
Modestas Jankūnas, conductor of Vilnius University Chamber Orchestra
“Congratulations to Lassenne Vocale and Alexis Bourdon for this beautiful and sensitive performance of my piece “Analemme”, and thank you for giving the piece its Belgian premiere! I am very grateful to Ivan Yohan for including this piece in Lassenne Vocale’s repertoire. As both composer and an aerospace engineer, it holds a special place in my work since it sets excerpts from astronomical scientific texts to music. “
Aurélian Hallopeau, composer
“It’s been wonderful working with the excellent singers of Lassenne Vocale and their inspirational director Ivan Yohan in the past few years. It was a great honour to be able to attend a service at the St Michel & St Gudula Cathedral in Brussels last year which featured the Belgian premieres of several pieces of mine, and it was fantastic to write a new work for te choir Lumen in Umbra, which they performed so well in last December. I look forward to further collaborations in the future!”
Phillip Cooke, composer
“Collaborating with Lassenne Vocale was creatively rewarding and high octane fun. Rehearsing and performing three of my Choir and Electric Guitar works with them was a highlight of my 2024 concert calender, and hearing my Umbra Animae sung in Belgium, the country where my Great Grandfather died and for whom the piece was written, was deeply moving. The concert venue was spectacular, and the Brussels audience was fully engaged. It was a truly magical experience that I hope to repeat!”
Mark Smythe, composer for film, choir and concert music
“I still vividly remember the emotion I felt during Lassenne Vocale’s performance of O magnum mysterium – which was the world premiere of the piece. Their interpretation had the rare merit of resonating deeply with the very feeling that inspired me while composing it. The piece was meant as a journey – from the heights of unreachable celestial mysteries to the depths of the human spirit – and I believe the conductor and the choir managed to translate this voyage into sound with passion, intensity, emotion, and outstanding skill.”
Giulio De Carlo, composer
Audition announcement 2026
Foreseen projects include a concert featuring John Rutter’s Birthday Madrigals (december 2026) and a choir trip to PORTUGAL (Spring 2027)
HOW TO JOIN OUR CHOIR
Lassenne Vocale is currently welcoming new singers to join the choir in Brussels, with a particular focus on tenor and bass voices.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Passionate and committed singers
Strong musicality and ensemble spirit
Availability for weekly rehearsal in Brussels (every Tuesday)
Questions? Ideas? Want to sing with us?
Hire us for your event?
Send us a note—we’re all ears!
