In 2020, it will be 400 years ago that the Pilgrims left Leiden. To commemorate this historical landmark, the young string orchestra Ciconia Consort (with “its impressive unity and full string tone” - Musicweb-international), will play music by composers who followed in their footsteps to America in a concert together with Maarten van Rossem, a national authority on American history. Van Rossem tells us in his usual razor-sharp manner about historical and current reasons for emigration. Soloist bass-baritone Marc Pantus shows his beautiful sonorous timbre in the Old American Songs by Aaron Copland. American Pioneers premiers May 1st 2020 in Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden and can subsequently be seen in Leeuwarden, Rotterdam, Den Haag and Amsterdam.