Saxophonist Kika Sprangers fills the Dordrecht church with nine distinctive female voices during the premiere of HERA Something unique is set to take place at the Kunstkerk in Dordrecht on September 25: Dutch saxophonist Kika Sprangers will join forces with nine distinctive female voices in a new collaboration called HERA. In the acoustics of the Kunstkerk, she will present new music she has written specifically for this project.
Ten distinctive musicians coming together
For HERA, Kika is composing new music in which her saxophone and the nine singers blend into a collective sound, with room for each individual voice. The ensemble’s strong musical personalities showcase just how much beauty lies in “being different.” The group thrives precisely because of this vibrant diversity: ten distinctive musicians who together form a rich whole.
HERA takes you on a journey
Blending in can be really boring, Kika thinks. In her role as an artist, she wouldn’t readily sign up for it. But at the same time, musically speaking, there’s nothing she’d rather do. Kika has a soft spot for the sound of a choir; “It can be overwhelmingly beautiful, can’t it?” She named her project HERA after the Greek goddess of air and atmosphere. She takes you along. Or rather: she drags you along.
Only women on stage
An ensemble consisting exclusively of female musicians is still a rarity. HERA doesn’t make a statement out of it—it’s simply a given. Kika often speaks out about gender inequality, and although she actually intended HERA to be a subtle statement, she can’t avoid addressing the issue here. Is HERA about ten women? Yes, certainly, but above all, it’s about ten distinct musical personalities who prove that it is precisely our differences that can produce the most beautiful harmony.
As a composer and bandleader, Sprangers brings together musicians from various genres in striking and surprising lineups. This has made her stand out: in 2025, she won the Edison Jazz National Award and was awarded the prestigious composition commission from the North Sea Jazz Festival.
