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The Dutch soprano, Esther Kouwenhoven, obtained her Bachelor's degree in Musicology at the Universiteit van Utrecht (2009-2012); and then studied Musicology at at Université Lumière-Lyon-II (2012). She graduated cum laude from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, where she studied with with Lena Lootens (2013-2018).
During her college years, Esther Kouwenhoven worked on such roles as Vitige in George Frideric Handel's Flavio, Susanna in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and Vitellia in W.A. Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito. In her third year of study she was also part of the choir of the Opera House de Munt in Brussels. After her studies she performed the role of Second Witch in Purcell's Dido & Aeneas and Fiordiligi in W.A. Mozart's Così fan tutte in a tour through Flanders. She was a soloist in J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244), Mass in B minor (BWV 232) and Magnificat in D major (BWV 243), Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria, Orff's Carmina Burana and W.A. Mozart's Requiem and Krönungsmesse. In 2018 she sang Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 4 under Sir Roger Norrington. She also has an affinity with modern music. In 2016 she sang the premiere of the song cycle Entre deux chemises by Gillis Sacré and of De Tempelberg by Nina Fukuoka in the role of Rachida. Her Lieder repertoire includes several cycles such as Robert Schumann's Frauenliebe und Leben and Liederkreis Op. 39 and Debussy's Ariettes Oubliées. In addition, she has sung songs by Schubert, Strauss, Francis Poulenc and Samuel Barber and in 2018-2019 she participated in the Udo Reinemann international Lied master-class led by Christianne Stotijn.
In 2019 Esther Kouwenhoven received the Ingeborg Köberle Prize from the the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel. This prize is awarded annually to the most exceptional student in the Early and Classical Music Department as an encouragement. She was a finalist in the following competitions: 'Concours International de chant de Marmande' in the category “Mélodie française” (2018), 'Les Nouveaux Talents de l'Art lyrique' (2018); and a prize-winner in the Sweet Sorrow Award in Utrecht (2021), international 'Bell’Arte' singing competition (2018) and the 'Bach Vocalistenconcours' (2016). She has participated in master-classes led by Margreet Honig, Miah Persson, Christoph Prégardien and Julius Drake, amongst others, and is currently being coached by Hanneke de Wit. She currently lives in Hilversum, the Netherlands. |
