Phyllis Ferwerda was trained by Gerard van Blerk at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. After graduating in 1984, she studied with Jan Wijn. Her great affinity and talent for chamber and vocal music was quickly recognised. She received the prize for best accompanist at the Berlage competition for young musicians in 1984. That same year, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf invited her to accompany at her masterclass at the Concertgebouw. Many masterclasses followed, at home and abroad, for Elly Ameling, Robert Holl, Anthony Rolfe Johnson and Jard van Nes. The Gregynog Festival in Wales, the Britten/Pears school of advanced musical studies at Aldeburgh invited her to accompany their courses. She worked as a repetiteur for the Reisopera and for the International Vocalist Competition in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. She also played and acted in music theatre productions for children (Yo-opera). In the Netherlands, she performed in recitals on all major stages, with established names such as Miranda van Kralingen, Carolyn Watkinson, Francine van der Heijden and Barbara Hannigan, Cora Viscount. Tania Kross and the Slovenian Barbara Kozelj. With the latter she also gave annual recitals in Ljubljana (Philharmonie) and was heard in Amsterdam's Kleine Zaal in May 2012. She has formed a duo with Francine van der Heijden for a long time.
