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musicians

Among the musicians of Friends of the Song, you will find up-and-coming talent, as well as singers and instrumentalists who are now well known both at home and abroad. 

singers
instrumentalists

singers

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Maria Portela Larisch

  • soprano
Maria Portela Larisch began her musical training at the choir academy of La Monnaie in Brussels and then studied at Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. She is co-founder of the trio Gilu and forms a duo with pianist Jou-an Chen.
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Maartje Rammeloo-soprano

Maartje Rammeloo

  • soprano
Maartje Rammeloo completed her master's degree cum laude, specialising in classical music theatre. Besides various opera engagements, Maartje is also in great demand as a soloist on the concert stage.
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Madeline Saputra

  • soprano
Indonesian soprano Madeline Saputra studied classical singing at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She has been singing songs, operas and oratorios from classical to contemporary genres since 2020. She forms a duo with pianist Apollon Kalamenios.
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Mijke Sekhuis-Sekhuis

Mijke Sekhuis

  • soprano
Mijke Sekhuis was studied classical singing at the Royal Conservatoire and the Dutch National Opera Academy in The Hague. Since then, she has been active as a song, concert and opera singer at home and abroad in the classical and contemporary repertoire.
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Caroline Stam-soprano

Caroline Tribe

  • soprano
Caroline Stam has given concerts both at home and abroad and worked with renowned conductors such as sir David Willcocks, Ton Koopman and Jan Willem de Vriend. She collaborated solo on several CDs.
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Fleur Strijbos

  • soprano
Fleur Strijbos has a deep-rooted passion for song since she attended Lucienne Van Deyck and Jozef De Beenhouwer's song class. Since 2022, she has formed a duo with Babette Craens with whom she was selected for the 'Udo Reinemann Masterclasses 2022-2023'.
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Varvara Tishina-soprano

Varvara Tishina

  • soprano
Varvara Tishina began her training in Russia and continued it at the Prince Claus Conservatoire in Groningen. After dedicating herself permanently to a career as a soprano soloist, she has performed various opera roles in recent years.
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Ellen Valkenburg

  • soprano
Ellen Valkenburg graduated with distinction from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. She forms a duo with pianists Maurice Lammerts van Bueren and Andrea Vasi, with whom she has given numerous concerts, and is a member of the Coco Collective. As a soloist, she sang with various companies. Valkenburg was winner of the Margit Widlund Stipendium, which is intended for young singers with a special stage presentation.
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Hanneke de Wit-soprano

Hanneke de Wit

  • soprano
Hanneke de Wit completed her studies at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague cum laude and performed several opera roles. She also studied German Language and Literature, the combination of which led to many concerts with German composers, poems and subjects.
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Johannette Zomer-soprano

Johannette Zomer

  • soprano
Johannette Zomer's repertoire ranges from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, resulting in a highly varied and extensive concert practice. She also regularly contributes to CD recordings.
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Florieke Beelen-mezzo-soprano

Florieke Beelen

  • mezzo-soprano
Florieke Beelen is a sought-after soloist at home and abroad both in oratorio and opera. The NRC Handelsblad called her 'the rising star of the Netherlands' after she won four awards in one year.
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Karolina Hartman-mezzo-soprano

Karolina Hartman

  • mezzo-soprano
The song repertoire is particularly close to Swedish Karolina Hartman's heart. Swedish songs occupy an important place in her programmes. She is in great demand as a soloist for the concert and oratorio repertoire and works with renowned ensembles at home and abroad.
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instrumentalists

Marie François

  • piano
Marie François is a versatile pianist with performances across Europe and the US. She has already released several CDs, and is making a podcast about the creation process of her CD of Chopin's Nocturnes. She forms a duo with Kelly Poukens.
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Femke de Graaf

  • piano
Femke de Graaf started playing music at an early age, soloing in Beethoven's First Piano Concerto at the age of 15. She obtained her master's degree with a specialisation in song accompaniment.
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Jan-Paul Grijpink-piano

Jan-Paul Grijpink

  • piano
Jan-Paul Grijpink studied at the conservatories of Utrecht and Amsterdam where he specialised in song accompaniment and opera. He took master classes with Rudolf Jansen, Roger Vignoles, Helmut Deutsch and Boris Berman. Immediately after his studies, he worked at the then Opera Studio Nederland and the Nederlandse Reisopera.
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Kelvin Grout

  • piano
Kelvin Grout has been playing the piano since childhood and studied in England at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he was taught by Graham Johnson and Gerald Moore, among others. He worked with great singers such as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Jessye Norman. As a soloist, he endeavours to raise awareness of British piano heritage.
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Jacobus den Herder

  • piano
Jacobus den Herder studied at the conservatories of Zwolle and Amsterdam and completed his studies with David Kuyken and Willem Brons in 2011. He performs regularly with mezzo-soprano Rosanne van Sandwijk and baritone Jan-Willem Baljet.
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Maarten Hillenius-piano

Maarten Hillenius

  • piano
From the very beginning, Maarten Hillenius specialised in accompanying singers. He gave concerts in many countries and accompanied song courses at home and abroad.
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Apollon Kalamenios

  • piano
Apollon Kalamenios had a great passion for music from an early age and aspired to become an all-round musician. He developed his musical skills by studying piano and violin as well as composition. He is currently studying piano with David Kuyken and composition with Richard Ayres at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He forms a duo with soprano Madeline Saputra.
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Christina Koti

  • piano
Greek pianist Christina Maria Koti studied in London and Paris. She performs frequently with her duo partner baritone Jared Michaud, with whom she also won several awards.
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Maurice Lammerts van Bueren-piano

Maurice Lammerts van Bueren

  • piano
Maurice Lammerts van Bueren has devoted himself entirely to song accompaniment. He works with many singers. He also works as a chamber musician with several instrumentalists and ensembles.
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Michelle Lynne

  • piano
Canadian pianist Michelle Lynne is a much sought-after chamber musician, pianist and teacher. She performs regularly in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Switzerland. She has won several prizes in international piano competitions and her performances are praised for their emotional depth and technical virtuosity.
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Laurens de Man

  • piano
Laurens de Man studied piano, organ and minor harpsichord with Jacques van Oortmerssen, David Kuyken and Johan Hofmann at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. In 2024, he was the first organist to receive the Dutch Music Prize. He forms a duo with mezzo-soprano Eline Welle.
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Reinild Mees

  • piano
Reinild Mees made her name as a song pianist and performed with many renowned singers. She is a warm advocate of the song repertoire of the early 20th century and the work of women composers.
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