Sing the City: the unifying power of singing together

On Thursday 25 June 2026, Sint-Donatus Park resounded with the voices of hundreds of children. 650 pupils from eight primary schools in Leuven gathered there to sing Aquaquoise, a song by poet Maud Vanhauwaert and composer Mirjam De Wit. What began as a musical project in the classroom grew into a unifying moment in the heart of the city.

Due to the high temperatures, Sing the City moved from Ladeuzeplein to the shade of the city park. With extra drinking water, water mist and plenty of enthusiasm, it proved to be a warm yet refreshing end to the school year.

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Under the guidance of conductor Tom Johnson, the musicians from the SLAC Conservatoire and Zuidgeluid, the children brought the song to life together. They had been practising it at school for weeks using an online learning platform. The fact that all those voices ultimately came together in one big choir made a big impression on pupils, teachers and passers-by.

Singing together, growing together

Sing the City aims to let children experience how music brings people together. By singing outside the school walls, they not only get the chance to experience music, but also to get to know each other and the city in a different way.

Singing stimulates creativity, boosts self-confidence and brings people closer together. This was clearly evident during Sing the City. The energy of hundreds of children singing and moving together transformed the park into a place where encounters and connection took centre stage.

The participating schools were also enthusiastic: “What an experience. This exceeded our expectations. We almost felt as though we were at a festival.”

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A glimpse of 2030

Sing the City is more than just a one-off singing event. The project is a preview of what LOV2030 aims to achieve.

Radical connection is at the heart of that ambition: bringing people together through art and culture, creating new encounters and enabling as many children and families as possible to take part in cultural projects.

The ambition is therefore a grand one. By 2030, LOV2030 aims to develop this event into a participatory project in which thousands of children from Leuven and the wider region will make the city resound together.