Ann Callens-Janssens
Ann Callens-Janssens, mezzo soprano, born on the 19th of July 1970, in Antwerp, studied singing with, amongst others, Mireille Capelle, Lucienne Van Deyck, Claudine Arnaud, Ludovic De San and Greta De Reyghere. At the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music she obtained first prizes in concert singing, opera singing and chamber music as well as a 'Higher Diploma' in chamber music and a 'Higher Diploma Cum Laude' for concert singing. Her regular lessons with Marie-Thérèse Maesen represent a vital link in her vocal training.
Ann was part of different vocal ensembles as the World Youth Choir, Goeyvaerts Consort (M.M. De Smet), Collegium Vocale (P. Herreweghe), the European Youth Singers, Kölner Kantorei (V. Hempfling), Vocaal Ensemble Cantando, Laudantes Consort (Guy Janssens), etc. At present she still works free lance with the Flemish Radio Choir (J. Duyck) and the chamber choir 'Choeur de Chambre de Namur'.
Over the last few years Ann also performed especially as a soloist. On her repertoire we find several Bach Cantates and passions, Mozart's Requiem and Kronungsmesse, Vivaldi's Gloria, ... In Germany she sang the 'Magnificat' by the Belgian composer Vic Nees, conducted by Volker Hempfling (D, Kölner kantorei) and for the German Radio she interpreted the mezzo solo in Beethoven's 'Chorsymfonie'. In Austria she sang some gospel solos, conducted by Robert Ray (USA) and the work "O Domine" by Thomas Jennefelt conducted by Sören K. Hansen (DK).
She was twice Laureate in the contest "International Young Singer of the Year" in Llangollen, Wales, and in 1999 in the "Eisteddfodd" in Cardigan, Wales, she obtained the first prize in the category "Folksong" and the third prize in the category "Light Opera".
Ann has contributed to different music theatre productions, amongst others to "De Opera" (the Opera) by Ignace Cornelis( Theatre "Het Gevolg"); to "Chapeau Chaplin" by Willi de Wit and to "Karel ende Elegast" by Wannes Vande Velde with the puppet theatre "De Spiegel".
On top of all that, she brightens up concert programs with chamber music. Musicians with whom she's performing at the moment are Griet Dodion, piano (Schumann and several songs), Kazuhiko Yazawa, piano (Debussy, Fauré, Schumann,.), Lieve Lecluyse, flute (Roussel, Holst, Telemann, Vaughan Williams, .), Els Biesemans (various Lieder), ... . She has also concert programs available with cello, violin, organ, guitar, gospel choir, .