Education
Janine’s passion for music and singing began at a very early age. She successfully completed her Bachelor of Arts studies as a solo vocalist (soprano) in 2001, at the Maastricht Academy of Music, training under Frans Kokkelmans. She attained the degree of performing musician, for which she achieved an A grade, as well as the degree of qualified music teacher. 

To further qualify and diversify as a musician, Janine studied Musical Theatre at the Brabant Academy in Tilburg. This included drama and dance (classical ballet, jazz, tap and street dance) and musical vocals under Edward Hoepelman. One of the highlights during this period was winning the first prize in the televised singing competition ‘Una Voce Particolare’ in 1998. (Tros tv).

Janine has regularly taken part in acting workshops with Christiane Bruhn in Köln. She successfully took part in the international Opera Masterclass ‘Acting for Singers’ at the Jekerstudios in Maastricht. This masterclass is aimed at young, professional European opera talents. Janine is currently under the tutorship of acclaimed vocal coach Gemma Visser.

Opera, operetta and musicals

Opera, operetta and musicals​Starting during her studies, Janine has performed a number of roles in operas, operettas and musicals, including: 
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  • Bastienne, in the concertina version of the opera ‘Bastien and Bastienne’ by W.A.Mozart. 
  • Lieschen, in ‘Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht’ (Kaffee Kantate) by J.S. Bach, with the Limburg Barok Consort. 
  • Ida, in the comical operetta ‘Das Pensionat’ by Franz von Suppé. 
  • Christine, the leading role and Princess (ensemble), in the musical ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber, in the City Theatre in Antwerp. 
  • In the concertina version of ‘Een job van onze tijd’ (A job of our times), a modern day chamber opera by Wim de Ruiter.

Performences

  • ​Kate McCowan, in the musical ‘Titanic’ by Maury Yeston, produced by Joop van den Ende Theatre Productions / Stage Entertainment, in the RAI Theatre, Amsterdam. 
  • Christine, the leading role (1st cast) in the musical ‘Das Phantom der Oper’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber, produced by Stage Entertainment, in the Palladium Theatre (SI-Centrum), Stuttgart,(Joop van den Ende) 
  • Zerlina, in the opera ‘Don Giovanni’ by W.A. Mozart during Monschau Klassik in association with the ‘Kammeroper Köln’ and the ‘Kölner Symphoniker’. 

The following on touring productions (every year more than 40 performances through Belgium and the Netherlands) from the ‘Vlaams Muziek Theater’, Belgium: 
  • Mascha, in ‘Der Zarewitsch’ by Franz Lehár. 
  • Juliska, in ‘Maske in Blau’ by Fred Raymond. 
  • Stasi, in ‘Die Csárdásfürstin’ by Emmerich Kálmán. 
  • Juliette, in ‘Der Graf von Luxemburg’ by Franz Lehár. 
  • Ottilie in ‘Im weissen Rössl’ by Ralph Benatzky.

Concerts

As a young opera singer, Janine is very active as a solo vocalist in church services, festivals and concerts, working together with choirs, harmony and symphonic orchestras in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
 
During and since her studies, Janine has added a wide range of concerts to the above list. These have included performance trips to the Czech Republic, Italy, Australia, Switzerland and Russia.
Janine can currently be seen in frequent concerts and church services at home and abroad. Recently, Janine has performed with great success in a number of jubilee concerts for the Royal Choir Society Mastreechter Staar, in concerts in Baden-Baden, Turin, and Milan under the guidance of Jan Vayne, at the Lago Maggiore, a number of concerts in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia and for ‘Italienische Operngala’ as part of the Monschau Klassik season in Germany. She also performs annually in a number of concerts with the ‘Vlaams Muziek Theater’, Belgium.

Most recent work

March 2015 - Premiere of the ‘Il Mio Sogno’series of ‘Opera-Theatre’ style concerts, completely orchestrated by herself. A musical journey and life story.

October 2015 - A series of concerts in Sicily including the recording of a video in Savoca.

December 2015 - Contribution to ‘Serious Request’:
Opening of ‘Magisch Maastricht’ in front of the town hall. 
Video recording of the duet ‘E Più Ti Penso’ with tenor Martin Hurkens, and performances in Heerlen. 

July 2017 - WMC (World Music Contest) in Kerkrade. Performed at the closing ceremony in the Parkstad Limburg Stadium, and provided musical accompaniment to the announcement of the winners of the concert competitions.

October 2017 - Further concert series in Sicily.

December 2017 - Performance at a prestigious prize-giving in Accra, Ghana.

March 2018 - Own production: ‘Il Mio Sogno’ opera-theatre at the Parkstad Limburg Theatre in Kerkrade.

September 2018 - 18th to 21st Sept. The Silver Show with the three baritones Ernst Daniël Smit, Henk Poort and Marco Bakker at the Messe in Utrecht.

October 2018 - Concert tour to Sicily. 

October/December 2018 - Completing production of her new Album in the Lakeside Studios in Hilversum (Chiel van Praag).
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January 2019: MedammeCour on Tour: Special Guest appearance in all Limburg theaters.

Cuurently creating a new album.

Television

  • Janine can be seen as solo-vocalist, as well as appearances as Christine to promote ‘Das Phantom der Oper’, in a number of German television programmes. 
  • She performed the Australian national anthem to commence the Netherlands – Australia friendly football/soccer match at Rotterdam’s Kuip stadium. 
  • Janine regularly collaborates in a number of programmes for the Dutch regional television stations L1 TV and TV Limburg. 
  • From September 2010 until January 2011, she presented ‘Chapeau Cultuur’ every month for L1 television. 
  • December 2013.’Gesu Bambino’ in ‘Businessclass’ with Harry Mens for RTL7. 

CDs and DVDs

  • ‘Luxus Liebt Robert Stolz’. Together with another soprano and two tenors from the television programme ‘Una Voce Particolare’, Janine formed the Luxus quartet and realised this CD. 
  • ‘Only Love’. Single. 
  • ‘My Musical Diary’. Janine’s first solo CD, Containing a selection of the best melodies from the world of musical and pop music. 
  • ‘Only Love’. Music video, recorded in Australia. 
  • ‘Hart voor Kerkrade’. Promotional video for the city of Kerkrade by L1 Commercial Productions. 
  • ‘Avé Maria’. Music video, recently recorded in and around the ‘Leenderkapel’ in Landgraaf. 
  • ‘Il Mio Sogno’. Trailer Opera Theatre in La Bonbonnière, Maastricht. 
  • ‘Live in Savoca’. Videoclip Sicily, Italy. 
  • ‘E Più Ti Penso’. Videoclip Serious Request, Heerlen.