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The Dutch soprano, Merel van Geest, received the Haags Top Talent award for her innovative musical accomplishments in the city. After her classical training at the Royal Conservatory (The Hague) and the Royal College of Music and Guildhall (Londen) she obtained her second master for New Audience and Innovative practice. This became the basis for her foundation Stichting Haagse Passie where she created and led many projects that came to life. During her studies she enrolled in a year round monthly classes at the International Lied Masterclasses in Brussels in the care of Udo Reinemann where she worked with many international teachers in art song.
Merel van Geest is an all- around vocalist with a great love for the Baroque and modern repertoire. She is regularly engaged as a soloist in Oratorio. Her heart lies with composers such as George Frideric Handel, Haydn, Antonio Vivaldi, W.A. Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi, César Franck and John Rutter. She regularly sings J.S. Bach cantates and passions. It brings her great joy to combine projects like a regular Passion with het Haagse Baroque gezelschap and a Matthew Passion (BWV 244) for children. Reaching a broad public with music has always been a goal.
Acting and theater have always been part of her life. During and after her studies she did internship at the DNOA, het Nationaal Toneel and het Onhafhankelijk Toneel. In opera she sang leading roles such as Laetita in Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief, Suzanna in W.A. Mozart's Le nozze di figaro, Gretel in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel, Iphigenie in Glück's Iphigenie en Aulide, Belinda in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Frasquita in Georges Bizet's Carmen. She also sang lead roles in two modern productions by Warner van Es. (Kinderen van Medea & Job).
In her goal not only to sing on a big stage she also loves to sing in quartets, octets and small choirs. For the last ten years she has worked monthly as an ensemble singer and solist for Casuquo, an organization that provides high level professional singers throughout the country.
Merel has a flourishing teaching practice and works as a vocal coach for several choirs. Alongside teaching adults she also trains the next generation. From the age of 16 until now she conducts serval children and youth groups. She has also been a coach for musical theater groups for over ten years already. |
