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2025

Theatre in Song

The inaugural edition of Theatre in Song - Europe's first international competition dedicated to art song presented theatrically.

A performance from the 2025 Theatre in Song competition

Overview

Theatre in Song is the IVC's newest competition format, conceived by General & Artistic Director Andrew Watts to succeed the long-running LiedDuo Competition. Each finalist duo - singer plus instrumentalist - develops a 40-45 minute thematic programme combining at least 30 minutes of live singing in three or more languages, performed from memory.

The 2025 edition ran from 25 to 28 September at Theater aan de Parade (Pleinzaal) in 's-Hertogenbosch. Eleven duos performed across two final rounds on 27 and 28 September, bookended by an opening concert, a community singing event, and a recital by soprano Claron McFadden with pianist Hans Eijsackers. The total prize pool reached €32,500 across ten categories.

Jury 2025

  1. Iain Burnside - Jury President - Pianist & BBC Radio 3 programme maker
  2. Robert Holl - Bass
  3. Yvonne Kenny - Soprano
  4. Paul Kildea - Conductor - Artistic Director, Musica Viva Australia
  5. Andrew Comben - CEO, Britten Pears Arts
  6. Corné Ran - Concert programmer
  7. Lisenka Heijboer Castañón - Stage director & theatre maker

Preliminary jury

  1. Manuela Ochakovski - Vocal coach
  2. Waut Koeken - Stage director - Intendant Opera Zuid
  3. Nino Gvetadze - Pianist - Artistic Director Delft Chamber Music Festival
  4. Andrew Watts - Countertenor - General & Artistic Director IVC

Finalists

  1. Laure-Catherine Beyers - Soprano · with Ana Ostojić (piano) · BE / RS
  2. Julika Hing - Mezzo-soprano · with Julius von Forstner (piano) · DE / DE
  3. Camilla Saba Davies - Soprano · with Sarah Luisa Wurmer (piano) · UK / DE
  4. Nina Schumertl - Mezzo-soprano · with Amelie Warner (piano) · DE / DE
  5. Jared Michaud - Baritone · with Christina Maria Koti (piano) · US / GR
  6. George Robarts - Baritone · with Edward Picton-Turbervill (piano) · UK / UK
  7. Gerben van der Werf - Countertenor · with Pieter Bogaert (piano) · NL / BE
  8. Justyna Khil - Soprano · with Rozalia Kierc (piano) · PL / PL
  9. Roza Herwig - Mezzo-soprano · with Julius Backer (piano) · NL / NL
  10. Noëlle Drost - Soprano · with Jorian van Nee (piano) · NL / NL
  11. Madeline Saputra - Soprano · with Apollon Kalamenios (piano) · ID / CY

Prize winners

  1. 1st Prize - Van Riemsdijk Theatre in Song Prize (€10,000) Laure-Catherine Beyers (soprano) & Ana Ostojić (piano) - Duo Ardea
  2. 2nd Prize - Staetshuys Fund Prize (€7,500) Madeline Saputra (soprano) & Apollon Kalamenios (piano)
  3. 3rd Prize - Bierens Foundation of Arts Prize (€5,000) Noëlle Drost (soprano) & Jorian van Nee (piano)
  4. Van Amelsvoort Prize (€2,500) - best performance of the compulsory work Justyna Khil (soprano) & Rozalia Kierc (piano)
  5. Friends of the IVC Prize (€2,000) Roza Herwig (mezzo-soprano) & Julius Backer (piano)
  6. Press Jury Prize (€2,000, in memory of Rudolf Jansen) Madeline Saputra & Apollon Kalamenios
  7. Junior Jury Prize (€2,000) George Robarts (baritone) & Edward Picton-Turbervill (piano)
  8. ANED Fonds Prize (€1,500) - best theatrical concept Nina Schumertl (mezzo-soprano) & Amelie Warner (piano) - programme "Cycle - The Woman I Am"
  9. International Lied Festival Zeist Prize Justyna Khil & Rozalia Kierc
  10. Vrienden van het Lied Engagements Prize Madeline Saputra & Apollon Kalamenios

Programme highlights

  • 26 September - Official opening concert (SongFest opening), followed by a community singing event
  • 27 September - Finals Round 1, 10:30-17:00; evening recital with Claron McFadden (soprano) & Hans Eijsackers (piano)
  • 28 September - Finals Round 2, jury deliberation and awards ceremony, 10:30-17:00
  • Compulsory work - "when I was" by Karmit Fadael - an unaccompanied vocal piece (2.5 min) published in five voice ranges from soprano to bass

Acknowledgements

The inaugural Theatre in Song was made possible by Theater aan de Parade, the City of 's-Hertogenbosch, Fonds Podiumkunsten, the Van Riemsdijk Fund, Staetshuys Fonds, the Bierens Foundation of Arts, ANED Fonds, the Friends of the IVC, and Vrienden van het Lied - with thanks to the festival musicians, language coaches, and the hundreds of volunteers and host families who welcomed singers from across the world.

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