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Main subjects

Voice

During the Bachelor Classic Music with main subject Voice at the ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle you attend weekly major subject classes lessons with your chosen singing teacher and work with a répétiteur. You also take subjects such as voice ensemble (in the first and second academic year), acting skills and speech therapy.

Main subject teachers

Marjan kuiper, Claudia Patacca and Marcel Beekman.

You also study essential languages such as French, German, English and Italian and, where necessary, auxiliary subjects such as Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais.

Three times a year you have group lessons with all voice students in five two-hour sessions. You then work (alternately) with all the major-subject teachers and the répétiteurs. The group lessons and voice ensemble lessons are always concluded with a public concert. Lessons from specialised guest teachers, workshops and masterclasses take place as much as possible during the project weeks, fitting in with the current themes of those projects.

The team of voice teachers consists of very experienced pedagogues, some of whom are also active on concert stages themselves, enabling them to use the necessary knowledge and experience first-hand for your development as a singer.

All efforts of our team are focused on your individual growth and development, your identity as a singer. We offer you plenty of space, personal attention and coaching in all areas that are important to you. The teachers and your fellow students look forward to welcoming you to Zwolle!

Classical Music student Sarah Konig explains her choice for ArtEZ in the video below (English subtitles available):

What can you expect?


Naturally you will work in the weekly voice lessons primarily with the lecturer from your main subject of choice. Here, many topics will be discussed: technical, voice, and musical development with a matching repertoire. Development and growth of your personality and identity as a singer and musician are key. All of this can only be achieved through mutual trust and respect.

Master classes are also organised annually for all voice and vocal students (Bachelor’s and Master) in the project weeks. 

When applying for admission:

  • you have a good singing voice with a unique character that you have already learned to master and we are able to hear that you and your voice have the potential to develop to the level of the Bachelor’s final examination within four years;
  • you will sing a not too difficult repertoire from different style periods and in four different languages. You will also prepare two vocal warm ups, one of which will be done without lyrics. Suggestions: Bordese, Concone, Lablanche, Lütgen, Marchesi or Vocalize nelle stile moderne;
  • you can communicate well through your chosen repertoire and can demonstrate visually and audibly that you thoroughly enjoy performing;
  • you will recite two poems, one in Dutch and the other in a language of your choosing.


You should be well-groomed and well-dressed, befitting of a performance or audition. Everything you sing and recite must be done from memory, without musical notations or a music stand, except when you sing an aria from the oratorio repertoire.