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

Maria Portela Larisch

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.

Maartje Rammeloo

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.

Madeline Saputra

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.

Mijke Sekhuis

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.

Caroline Tribe

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.

Fleur Strijbos

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'.

Varvara Tishina

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.

Ellen Valkenburg

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.

Hanneke de Wit

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.

Johannette Zomer

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.

Florieke Beelen

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.

Karolina Hartman

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.

instrumentalists

Vital Stahievitch

Vital Stahievitch participated in international festivals and master classes, won many awards and made several concert tours.

Naomi Tamura

While studying in Tokyo, Naomi Tamura drew attention to herself through her fascination with European musical culture. She regularly performs as a soloist and song accompanist.

Sofia Vasheruk

Sofia Vasheruk plays diverse piano repertoire and performs both solo and in ensemble.

Bas Verheijden

Bas Verheijden was also the only Dutchman to study at the renowned Accademia Pianistica in Italy and won several awards.

Micha van Weers

Micha van Weers' playing is often described as poetic. She is known for her unerring sense of language and timing, her beautiful colour palette and the unique musicality she manages to bring to every performance. Together with baritone Robbert Muuse, she forms a duo praised for their unity and artistic depth.

Robert Weirauch

Robert Weirauch is correpetitor at the Maastricht Academy of Music and active in chamber music, song, orchestra, opera and bands. As a composer, he searches for the ultimate synthesis of sound worlds and uses very different styles.

Eleonore Pameijer

Eleonore Pameijer is a flautist and song accompanist.

David van Ooijen

David van Ooijen is a soloist and accompanist mainly on various lutes, baroque guitar, romantic guitar and shamisen, but he also plays continuo with various ensembles and orchestras.