Aria Balsamica

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Lyric dramatic Soprano Jacobine van Laar was born in the Netherlands, where she started her musical career as a flautist. During these studies at the Sweelinck Conservatoire Amsterdam, she began a second study as a singer with the Dutch Baritone Wout Oosterkamp at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. She continued her vocal studies in London with Laura Sarti at the Guildhall School of Music, followed by the Advanced Opera Training Course at Birkbeck College, University of London. Jacobine currently studies with Angela Hickey. As part of the Amsterdam Grachten Festival she took part in a Wagner Masterclass with Stig Andersen. Amongst the latest performance are concerts at Hambleden, Wycombe Abbey, St. John Smith’s Square and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. In 2005 she sang in the opera production Jane Eyre with Opera Mint in Birmingham. Jacobine has been involved in several chamber music ensembles and contributed to several radio and television recordings.

Karen van Laar-Snoei started her professional flute studies 1990 with Pieter Odé at the Sweelinck Conservatoire in Amsterdam. It was during this time Karen and Jacobine met. She currently has a position as an alto flautist and piccolo player in the Netherlands Flute Orchestra (NLFO), a fully professional orchestra under the baton of Jorge Caryevschi. She also plays in the Dordts Chamber Orchestra and is a active as a chamber musician. She forms a duo with percussionist Patrick Streng with whom she performs contemporary pieces for flute and marimba while with Aria Balsamica she focusses on the more classical and romantic repertoire. With the cellist Cressida Nash and Jacobine van Laar she gave several recitals in both England and The Netherlands. Apart from life as a performer, Karen also enjoys a busy teaching practise, both at music schools and at privately.

Imre Rolleman studied at the Rotterdam Conservatoire with Jo Hagen where he graduated in 2000 with distinction. During these studies he regularly played in the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Young Philharmonic and the Doelen Ensemble. In 1999 Imre performed as a soloist at the ‘Leidens Sinfonietta and in 2000 he won the “Prix d’Harmonie”. In 2001 Imre played with the Rotterdam winds Ensemble with established musicians like Laurens Otto (French Horn), David Salinas (clarinet) and David Fresquet (oboe). Imre regularly plays in the Dutch Marine Band, the Gelders Orkest and Randstedelijk Begeleidings Orkest Sinfonia. He is principal flautist in the Dordts Kamer Orkest, the Laurens Bach Orkest and since 2005 flautist in the contemporary ensemble “De Bezetting Speelt”. Imre also teaches at several music schools nr. Rotterdam.

Jeroen Liedorp enjoyed his professional studies with pianist Michael Davidson at the Rotterdam Conservatoire where he graduated in 1997. He also studied song accompaniment with Kelvin Grout. Jeroen took part in master classes given by Lazar Berman, Philippe Entremont and Graham Johnson. He played a Kurt Weil program with the Rotterdam Youth Philharmonic featuring the well-known Dutch singer Jasperina de Jong and made several recordings with a.o. Karen van Laar-Snoei and Imre Rolleman for the Dutch Radio. Jeroen is in popular demand as a chamber musician and has been performing, both as accompanist and soloist, in most major concert halls throughout The Netherlands. Since early 2006 Jeroen works as the choral accompanist for Capella Constancis in Schoonhoven nr. Rotterdam. He recently recorded a cd with the prominent Dutch soprano Ingrid Kappelle with whom he is scheduled to give his debut recital in The Amsterdam Concertgebouw in 2008.

Guest Artists

Robert Bekkers studied guitar with Kees Dirkx at the Maastricht Conservatoire. Later he also studied with Angelo Gilardino in Italy. He attended master classes with well known artists like: David Russell, Abel Carlevaro and Pepe Romero. Robert regularly performs in concerts both as soloist as well as part of well known Dutch ensembles like the Berdien Stenberg ensemble and Jan Vayne. Robert is guitarist for the flamenco show group "Impetu", the "Amstel guitar quartet" en the marriachi band "Serenata Mexicana". Recently, Robert is focussing on his new solo programme en his piano-guitar duo with Anne Ku. Robert plays on a Jeroen Hilhorst guitar, especially constructed to his own wishes in 2005.