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.
Charlie Bo Meijering is a pianist and visual artist. Since graduating, he has performed as a soloist on several occasions both on the concert stage and in TV programmes. He has a special fondness for song accompaniment.
Ernst Munneke specialised in song accompaniment during his studies. He has an intensive concert practice with many singers and instrumentalists and has given concerts worldwide.
Wouter Munsterman has a great love of song and focused on chamber music and accompanying singers during and after his studies. Since 2007, he has been a repetiteur at the vocal department of ArtEZ Conservatoire in Zwolle.
Jan Willem Nelleke is in great demand as an accompanist and has worked with various singers and instrumentalists with whom he has given concerts throughout Europe and beyond. He has composed a large number of songs and chamber music and his arrangements are regularly played.
Marien van Nieukerken works(ed) with numerous well-known singers and has accompanied many song recitals. He has a keen interest in composers whose repertoire is generally less well known. As a (guest) teacher, he regularly gives courses in song interpretation and song accompaniment.
Mark van Nispen is active as pianist/song accompanist and works with several singers. He is also associated with opera companies as a repetiteur and coach.
Abigail Richards has won many scholarships and awards. She can be heard as a chamber musician, soloist and song accompanist. She is also an accompanist at the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music and a freelancer with the Nationale Reisopera.
Jeroen Sarphati is in great demand as a pianist, vocalist accompanist and festival pianist. He has given recitals in such important venues as the Beurs van Berlage, the Brussels Monnaie Theatre and the Hermitage in St Petersburg.
Martijn van Sas felt strongly attracted to the piano from the age of ten and developed into a gifted classical pianist and passionate musician. He is a teacher and accompanist at the Kunsthumaniora Brussel and the academy of Zottegem.
Sofi Simeonidis studied piano, song interpretation and accompaniment in Tbilisi, Detmold and Cologne. She attended numerous master classes, winning numerous prizes and scholarships. Her passion for music and literature led her to singing and poetry, from classical to contemporary. She forms a duo with Julia Kurig.
Maxime Snaterse completed her bachelor cum laude and later her master with highest distinction. She won several awards and worked as a song pianist with various singers. She is a passionate pianist who wants to share her fascination for classical music with audiences.
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