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The Dutch mezzo-soprano/alto, Merel van Schie, has a broad musical background. At the age of 6 she received her first violin lessons, ten years later she switched to the viola and studied at the
Utrechts Conservatorium with Prunella Pacey, Richard Wolfe and Nobuko Imai. In the meantime she had discovered her love for singing and she studied with Henny Diemer, also at the
Utrechts Conservatorium. Recently she has been coached by Marjan Kuiper. She attended the opera class of Monique Wagemakers and master-lasses with pianist Rudolf Jansen, singers
Mark Tucker, Henk Smit and
Peter Kooij and director Jeannette Aster.
Merel van Schie frequently performs in concerts and oratorios and has sung dozens of cantatas. Her repertoire includes
J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion
BWV 244, Johannes-Passion BWV 245, Weihnachts-Oratorium
BWV 248 and Mass in B minor BWV 232;
George Frideric Handel's Messiah, W.A. Mozart's Requiem, as well as more romantic repertoire such as Szymanowski's Stabat Mater. She also sang in productions of operas by
G.F. Handel, Monteverdi, Purcell and Felix Mendelssohn, among others. She recently performed the special work Nuestra Señora de la Soledad for alto, viola and choir by the Belgian composer Vic Nees.
Merel has already soloed several times in Germany in the Matthäus-Passion
BWV 244. The Rheinische Post wrote: 'die Altistin Merel van Schie überzeugte durch eine grosse Innigkeit und Empathie ihres Vortrages'. This year she sang the alto arias at the performances of
J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion
BWV 244 by the Nederlandse Bach Academie conducted by Hoite Wigsma. She currently lives in Delfgauw, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. |
