Soprano and vocal pedagogue Valerie Haunz was born in Bonn and holds a bachelor's degree in classical singing and vocal pedagogy, as well as a master's degree in song and concert singing from the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. She is currently studying at university for a master's degree in musical theatre.
Together with her duo partner Sofi Simeonidis she has won many prestigious prizes. In 2023, they won 1st prize at the Isenbügel Music Competition in the Song Duo category, as well as 2nd prize at the internal University Song Competition. The following year, in 2024, they won 1st prize at the Vocallis Festival, followed by a 1e prize at the International Student LiedDuo Competition. Their successes were further crowned with a concert in Paris and a first prize at the Princess Eugénie Competition 2024. Most recently, they won 1st prize at the Gen Re Music Competition 2024.
Valerie Haunz became known to a wide audience through a programme of songs by Jewish composers recorded by WDR in 2022, and in April 2025 her prize-winning concert Zwischen Sturm und Stille at the Princess Eugenie Prize broadcast by SWR.
Valerie Haunz, soprano
Sofi Simeonidis, piano
Between Storm and Stillness is a song recital in which the contemporary song cycle singet leise by Moritz Eggert takes centre stage. The songs from this cycle are interspersed with songs from different eras, making for a diverse emotional and musical journey.
The songs - by Barber, Medtner, Pejačević, Bach and Schubert, among others, in addition to Eggert - tell of deep human emotions like love and loss, as well as jealousy and loneliness. They explore the dark depths of madness, the death that is inevitable and the relentless search for hope. Stories that move between dangerous silence and the inner storm of feelings.
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Valerie Haunz, soprano
Sofi Simeonidis, piano
War & Peace explores the multifaceted experiences of war: from the euphoria and patriotic fervour at the beginning to the horrors of loss, the inner struggle and longing for peace later. Through moving songs, the voices of people who experienced and suffered from war are brought to life. Their music speaks of pain, the loss of home and the search for hope in the darkness. A programme including works by Somervell, Eisler, Wolf, Schubert, Schumann, Britten and Weil, among others, that offers space for remembrance, empathy and quiet optimism.
English
