Biography
Study
Annemieke Spoelstra was born in Kampen, The Netherlands, and started piano lessons with Joke Venhuizen at age seven. She studied classical piano at the Conservatory in Zwolle, The Netherlands, with Rudy de Heus. She earned her degrees Docerend and Uitvoerend Musicus (Bachelor and Masters as Performing Artist) for soloist, chamber music and art song accompaniment. She was soloist in the C. Franck’s “Variations Symphoniques” with conductor Tilo Lehmann.
After the study in Zwolle she studied Art Song Accompaniment at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam as a duo with German tenor Immo Schröder. During all studies she has often been asked as collaborative artist at several conservatories and national and international competitions for different instruments and voices.
Since 1999 she has been coached by the late Tan Crone and had taken master classes with Tan Crone, Peter Serkin, Dalton Baldwin, Rudolf Jansen, Benjamin Rawitz, Roger Vignoles, Prof. Wild, Elly Ameling, Maria Hol, and Margreet Honig.
Prizes
At age 21, Annemieke was First Prize winner at the Dutch National competition Young Music Talent Nederland for best accompanist. She was praised for her touch and coloring.
In 1997 she was First Prize winner for Music Student of the Year for her final recital. The jury report wrote, “She shows great intellect in music pedagogy and is a sensible, great performer, with well-balanced programs.”
In 2001 she was a finalist in Paris at the international Nadia and
Lili Boulanger competition.
Performances & Teaching
Since January 2004, she has been a US resident in Burlington, Vermont. She performs solo, teaches piano at St. Michael’s College and at her studio and coaches vocalists and instrumentalists for auditions, competitions and performances. With Jeremiah McLane, accordion, she forms a duo. With soprano Roxanne Vought, many artsongs are going to be performed in 2011/2012.
At Saint Michael's College she also accompanies the chorale, with Dr. Nathaniel Lew conductor. (www.smcvt.edu)
Miss Spoelstra is accompanist for the VYOC, Vermont Youth Orchestra chorus and chorale. Dr. Jeff Buettner is their conductor. (www.vyo.org)
Starting fall 2011, she will be the pianist for the Thetford Chambersingers.
Every year the pianist comes with 2 new programs. for 2009 it was 'Toccare', recorded, and an all Chopin program.
In 2010 "Melodias", music by Debussy, Granados and Ginastera and "Ballads and Dances", music by Chopin, Liszt and Dvorak.
In 2011 "Ideas & Dances", entire Bach program and "Holland-Americ/ka" with new works.
Annemieke has performed concerts in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the USA.