Join our International Masterclass for Lied Duos now!
Joining our International Masterclass for Lied Duos means seizing the opportunity to work on your artistic development in a stimulating environment with the world's greatest masters of art song.
There's a strong connection between Internationaal Lied Festival Zeist, the green ambiance of Zeist and art song. Nature has inspired countless poets and composers to write the most beautiful poems and music to honour her and to shed light on our relationship with the world we live in. This year we celebrate nature itself by giving her a voice of her own. And what better way to do so than by listening to songs that so often celebrate her and tell stories that resonate with our own?
By choosing Back to Nature as the 2026 festival theme, artistic directors bass-baritone Henk Neven and pianist Hans Eijsackers invite us to explore our relationship with nature: how do we relate to ourselves and to our origins? Because even though we seek refuge in nature from our hectic existence, she is not merely an amusement park meant for entertainment and relaxation; we are part of it and can both ‘make’ it or ruin it. A quick glance at the news already reveals that climate challenges are facing us head on. Can we pause to truly listen, we can hear the beauty and wisdom that nature has to offer? From 15 May to 23 May, 2026, International Song Festival Zeist will delve into our intricate bond with nature, emphasising that it is not just a place for pleasure but a vital part of our existence. Join us in this exploration!
Our 8-day International Masterclass lasts from Sunday to Sunday and consists of a unique series of both public and private lessons on interpretation, poetry, language, cultural history and performance coaching. All sessions take place in the historic and green surroundings of the Moravian Church nearby Slot Zeist (Zeist Castle).
Please take note of the following conditions concerning your choice of songs. We invite you to send us a proposal for a recital consisting of a minimum of 8 songs considering this year's festival theme and taking into account the expertise of this year's masters. Your programme is required to feature the following:
Also, include a short motivation for your programme proposal in your application.
During the master class, you will have the opportunity to work on parts of your proposed programme. The masters will choose in consultation with you which songs will be worked on. All songs must be sung by heart.
The master class is meant for (pre)professional singer-pianist duos. We do not accept applications form singers or pianists separately. To apply, please send in the completed application form and upload the following:
You should send in your application before 1 April 2026. Applicants will receive notice before 12 April 2026 whether they have been accepted.
The tuition fee for the masterclass is € 350,00 per musician and must be paid before 1 May 2026:
IBAN NL03 SNSB 0925 0975 43
International Song Festival Zeist Foundation
Citing: Tuition fee masterclass
Your admission will automatically be cancelled if the tuition fee has yet to be received by 1 May 2026.
Participants will be accommodated with host families from Saturday, 16, until Sunday, 24 May 2026. Coffee, tea, and lunch will be provided on masterclass days. In addition, you will receive a passe-partout for all recitals during the festival.
Over the years, Robert Holl has become one of the most renowned interpreters of Lied of our time. He is well-known for the expressivity of his interpretations and the intimacy he invokes. Always putting the text first during a recital is distinctive in his performances. Robert Holl's vision of the art of song is rooted deeply in his extensive knowledge of poets and the philosophy of the time they lived in. Since 1998 Robert Holl is a professor at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna. Robert Holl was the first artistic leader of International Lied Festival Zeist in 2015 and serves as its patron, together with Elly Ameling.
Pauliina Tukiainen has gained a reputation as a versatile interpreter and professor of art song repetoire. In addition to giving recitals with her regular duo partner baritone Arttu Kataja, she has also collaborated with Ingeborg Danz, Henk Neven, Christoph and Julian Prégardien and Marie Seidler, among others. Many of her concerts were recorded and broadcast on international radio and TV stations. Tukiainen recorded several CDs, including two with Kataja. In addition to her busy concert schedule, Tukiainen is a much sought-after teacher at conservatories and for master classes and workshops. She is artistic advisor to the Bonner Schumannfest, where she set up a stage for young song duos. She also holds a chair of ‘liedgestaltung’ at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.
Hans Eijsackers is a renowned pianist who regularly appears on stage as a soloist, chamber musician and collaborative pianist. As such, he has worked with numerous singers and instrumentalists worldwide. With baritone Henk Neven, he has formed a longstanding collaboration as a lied duo. Since 2013 he has worked as a professor of Liedgestaltung at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf and teaches chamber music at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. In addition, he regularly is a member of national and international juries, teaches master classes and is the artistic leader of the International Student LiedDuo Competition in Groningen. In 2022, Eijsackers and Henk Neven took over the festival's artistic direction from Robert Holl. Hans Eijsackers will appear in concert at opening night with Christoph Prégardien and on Friday 23 May with Henk Neven and Dutch writer Arthur Japin.
Austrian actress Waltraud Österreicher is a versatile person. She graduated as a musician and actor and made several films and theatre performances at home and abroad. Her passion for people and her broad background in music, theatre, and psychology mean she is now a sought-after musician coach.
She gained significant knowledge on vocalisation and text delivery, diction, pantomime, posture and movement, and group dynamics. Her expertise and experience enable her to analyse a musician's unique gifts and personal barriers quickly. With all her diverse training and coaching, extensive experience, and strong intuition, she loves to accompany musicians into a happy, fulfilling, and successful life, both professionally and personally.
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Having trouble with your application? Contact us at: masterclass@ilfz.nl