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The Dutch bass-baritone, choral conductor, organist and singing teacher, Jaap de Kok, earned his Bachelor's degree in Organ with honors at the Prins Claus Conservatorium in Groningen (2015-202), studying with Theo Jellema and Erwin Wiersinga. He also studied piano as a full-time major with Nata Tsvereli. He has participated in master-classes with Wolfgang Zerer, Paola Crivellaro, Ville Urponen, and Christophe Mantoux. In 2018, he won first prize at the SGO Orgelconcours. In 2022, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Choral Conducting (2017-2021), conducting works including Maurice Duruflé's Requiem. In addition to lessons with his principal subject teacher, Louis Buskens, he has participated in master-classes with Fokko Oldenhuis, Markus Yli Jokipii, and Ed Spanjaard, among others. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Voice (2020-2024) with a 9 (out of 10) under Hanneke de Wit and studied with Marcel Reijans, Paul Triepels, David Visser, and David van Laar. He has participated in master-classes with Margreet Honig, Maarten Koningsberger, Paul McNamara, Jan-Willem Baljet, Henk Neven, Peter Kooij, Nico van der Meel, and Harry van Berne, among others. He is currently being coached by Marcel Boone and Margreet Honig.
As a soloist, Jaap de Kok has sung J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion BWV 244, Johannes-Passion BWV 245, and Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248; W.A. Mozart's Requiem Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, and many other works, including Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine. In opera productions, he performed parts of Bartolo in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Sarastroin W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, and Macheath in The Threepenny Opera. As a chorister, he sang in the choir of the Wadopera production of Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes.
Jaap de Kok conducts the Agricola Consort (since January 2018), an ensemble primarily focused on English, Dutch, and German church music. He has conducted the Gereformeerd Groningen Mannenkoor (since May 2019), the Asser Kamerkoor Arpeggio, and has served as interim conductor of several choirs (OCSG kerstkoor: October-December 2018) Concertkoor Gloria Deo te Drachten: January-March 2020). Since October 2022, he has been Artistic Director of the Roder Jongenskoor. Finally, he teaches singing. To further his professional development as a singing teacher, he participates in the Margreet Honig Foundation Studio, where he receives coaching from Margreet Honig and Maarten Koningsberger. |
