Recent and past projects

In the summers of 2012, 2013, 2014,2015 and 2016 we have organized a summer course in France ( in collaboration with the Académie de la Roche d’Hys)  Ten to fourteen singers participated in two groups and a team of distinguished teachers worked with them. Among the teachers were conductors Marco Boehmi (La Scala Milan , Wigmore Hall London), Ivan Törzs (Vlaamse Opera, Hungary State Opera, Hawaii Opera) and Niels Muus ( Macerata ArenaHead of Opera Vienna Music Conservatory)  , impresarios Maria Mot (Intermusica London UK), Winfried Hofinger (Tennigkeit Agency Düsseldorf), William Guerri (Vice-President Columbia Artists Management, New York), Alex Grigorev and  Oliver Kretschmer (TACT International Art Management) and impresario Philippe Greneche (Paris). Also several Intendants from German Theaters have been faculty member, among them Berthold Schneider, Intendant Opera Wuppertal .

Several participants during these courses have appeared recently at major opera houses: tenor Nikhil Navkal sang a major role during the Aix-en-Provence Festival and made his debut in Australia. Counter tenor Daichi Fujiki  sang several roles for the Vienna State Opera and has many engagements in Japan and Europa. Soprano Katharine Dain appeared with the Dutch National Opera and in various productions in France, Canada and the US. Other successful participants were Canadian-Turkish mezzo-soprano Beste Kalender, Canadian soprano Susanne Tsagkaris, Chinese tenor  Andrew Li Ting and Dutch mezzo-soprano Rosina Fabius.

Three smaller workshops were organized in Toronto (together with our Canadian partner JAL), in in Basel (with the Hochschule für Musik) and in Amsterdam (with Orfeo Singer baritone Anas Seguin from Paris). For the participants of the Toronto Workshop and some singers of the Basel workshop Hans Nieuwenhuis organized a range of auditions in Germany, Austria and France.

A small  seminar was organized in November 2013 in Montreal, Canada in collaboration with Les Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyrique de Canada, a Program from Theatre Lyrichoregra20 of Mr. Alain Nonat. This small conference was attended by several opera directors and casting directors from France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Slovakia and the Netherlands. Also several artistic Directors of important European Opera Studio’s did participate (Munich & Strassbourg)

During the Marmande International Vocal Competition in August 2012 the first Orfeo Prize was awarded to a young French baritone Anas Seguin (22). Hans Nieuwenhuis was a jury member for many years during this competition and selected the first Orfeo-Singer that we will support in the coming years.

In the past 30 years Orfeo Director Hans Nieuwenhuis has advised and coached more then 50 singers in Holland, Canada, France, the US and Japan and organized audition tours and presentations for them. Many singers he advised and coached made international careers: A few examples – Ukrainian baritone Iurii Samoilov is currently engaged by the Frankfurt Opera and will appear next season as Schaunard at the Metropolitan Opera New York He recently sang for the Salzburg Festspiele, the Rossini Festival Pesaro, Bolshoi Opera Moscou and Macerata Festival in Italy. Japanese countertenor Daichi Fujiki became a finalist in the Vienna Belvedere Competition and appeared in two important roles for the Opera Company of Bologna. He recently sang several roles with the Wiener Staatsoper.

It is important to mention that Mr. Nieuwenhuis or Mr. Harrell are not working as an impresario or artist manager. They do not negotiate on behalf of singers nor charge a fee or a percentage of the singer’s contract for their work. The Foundation does not negotiate about singers of conductors fees but will, if requested, advise the singer or conductor about the current practice in the international opera world.