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