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.
Helena van Heel has developed into a versatile mezzo-soprano who knows how to touch her audience with her velvety voice. She is praised for her extraordinary storytelling skills. As a soloist, Helena has a repertoire that ranges from baroque to contemporary.
Julia Kurig Yazaki discovered her curiosity and affinity for art songs at an early age. She also developed a special love for lesser-known repertoire and composers and gave several recitals featuring works by female composers and Japanese art songs from the 19th century. She forms a duo with Sofi Simeonidis.
The song is a great love of mezzo-soprano Leonore van Sloten, as is baroque music. She regularly performs concerts around Dutch 17th-century lute song.
Norwegian Bettina Smith has a wide repertoire: from medieval to contemporary, which she performs as a soloist, as an oratorio singer and in chamber music.
Olivia Vermeulen is a sought-after soloist on the major international concert stages, and has worked with many well-known conductors. Outside her work as a concert and opera singer, Olivia has a great passion for song.
Eline Welle studied classical piano and voice at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. During her master studies, she attended the International Song Masterclass by Christianne Stotijn in Brussels. She forms a song duo with pianist Laurens de Man.
After her studies, Ruth Willemse received several scholarships and attended several master classes. She is regularly in demand as a soloist in oratorios and has performed several opera roles.
As an oratorio singer, Leon van Liere performed solos in several passions and sang various roles in operas. He gave song recitals with a number of pianists.
Jan-Willem Schaafsma has been heard in various opera roles and has been part of the ensemble Frommermann since 2006. In addition, his qualities as an opera singer are also expressed outside the opera stage in Taralli.
In recent years, Jan Willem has appeared regularly on the opera stage and as a soloist in various spiritual works. He also gives regular song recitals.
Hans Pieter Herman sang on the concert stage in various operas, oratorios and in song recitals lauded by the Dutch press. He also works as a member of the choir of the Netherlands Opera.
Greek pianist Anna Alvizou specialised in the song genre. In 2022, she received the special prize for 'best song pianist' at the international Triomphe de l'Art competition in Brussels. She forms a song duo with soprano Jessica Harper.
David Bollen worked for De Nederlandse Opera, Opera Zuid, Opera Trionfo and for several separate opera productions. He also regularly gives song recitals and performs at home and abroad with, among others, ensemble Frommermann.
Lies Braakman studied at the Prince Claus Conservatoire in Groningen and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Besides her performances as a soloist and with chamber music ensembles, she plays frequently with vocalists.
Shuann Chai is an active and committed artist, acclaimed for her interpretations on both modern and historical instruments. Besides her concert practice, she is increasingly in demand as a teacher.
Amy Chang masters a versatile repertoire. As a coach and répétiteur, she has mastered a wide range of vocal styles, from Baroque operas to contemporary song art and musical theatre. Together with a number of young singers, she has won several awards, including the Friends of Song Engagement Award with Elenora Hu in 2023.
Jou-an Chen studied in Taiwan, Paris and Cologne. Besides giving solo concerts, she has a love for song. She forms a duo with soprano Maria Portela Larisch.
Babette Craens grew up in a musical family and received piano and cello lessons from a very young age. She obtained her bachelor and master piano both with highest distinction, is laureate of several piano competitions and has been heard at prestigious festivals. She forms a duo with Fleur Strijbos.
Vesna Dimcevska specialised in piano accompaniment at the National Conservatory of Toulouse, where she developed her passion for the song repertoire. She also performed as a soloist in (chamber music) concerts and at festivals.
After completing her studies, Victoria Dmitrieva devoted herself to chamber music and song repertoire. She collaborates with several ensembles and musicians. She also works as a repetiteur and is regularly asked as pianist/coach at master classes
Swiss-born harpsichordist and fortepianist Ursula Dütschler is an inspired musician who knows how to render rhetoric, drama and emotion in music in moving ways.
Phyllis Ferwerda has a great affinity and talent for chamber and vocal music. Several great singers invited her as an accompanist for their master classes and courses. In the Netherlands, she could be heard in recitals on all major stages with several renowned singers.
Elizabeth Ford's life has been immersed in music. Even while studying piano at the Guilhall School of Music and Drama, she accompanied singers and instrumentalists. She works as correpetitor at the HKA and the National Ballet Academy and can be heard on the CD 'Het Stromende Getij & De Winterdichter' with compositions by Julia Barnes on texts by Dutch poets.
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