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.
Francis van Broekhuizen started singing at 15 and completed her studies in classical singing with distinction. As a soloist, she worked with several opera companies.
Henriette Feith studied solo singing at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. After her studies, she focused mainly on baroque, oratorio and chamber music.
Selma Harkink completed her studies at the Utrecht Conservatory of Music with distinction. Simultaneously, she studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory at the New Opera Academy and the song class.
Australian soprano Jessica Harper graduated summa cum laude from the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp in 2022. She won first or second place or finished as a finalist in every major Australian singing competition. She forms a song duo with pianist Anna Alvizou with whom she won the prize for the best interpretation of the obligatory work Sensation (Martin Fondse) at the Young Artist Platform of International Song Festival Zeist in 2023.
Soprano Valerie Haunz is a much sought-after song and concert singer. She won first prize at the Isenbügel Music Competition in the song duo category. Together with pianist Sofi Simeonidis - with whom she has formed a duo since 2022 - she won first prize and a recital in a Paris concert hall at the International Student LiedDuo Competition in 2024.
Soprano Irene Hoogveld obtained her bachelor and master degrees cum laude and won several awards. She has performed several opera roles. Driven by a passion for modern, Dutch music, Irene sang a large number of premieres for various Dutch composers.
Elenora Hu is an alumna of De Nationale Opera Studio in Amsterdam and has won an impressive string of awards. She has since performed a wide variety of roles and has a great love of song.
Claire lees completed her master's degree in voice and the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She was soon performing in song recitals and as a soloist in choral works and opera productions.
Irene Maessen has built up a broad song repertoire. Her affinity with the French impressionist repertoire is striking. As an opera singer, she performed many roles.
After graduating cum laude from the Enschede conservatory, Claudia Patacca built up a flourishing concert practice with performances at home and abroad. She is also principal study teacher in classical voice. at the ArtEZ conservatoire.
Kelly Poukens is considered an extraordinary soprano with a warm, rich voice. She enjoys working interdisciplinary and has a great love of song. She forms a duo with pianist Marie François.
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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