Judith Mok
Encyclopedia
Judith Mok born in Bergen, North Holland is a Dutch
soprano
, author and poet, who lives in Ireland and has released novels and many articles in English.
at a very young age, Mok won French and Dutch State Grants to study in Vienna
under Christa Ludwig
and her mother Eugenia. In Paris she studied French repertoire with Pierre Bernac
and Noemie Perugia. She participated in masterclasses for contemporary music by Cathy Berberian, John Cage, Karl Heinz Stockhausen and Dorothy Dorrow. She was also chosen for masterclasses by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
. Prizes followed at the international vocalist competitions in Den Bosch and Barcelona.
Her lieder, oratorio
and opera
repertoire led to appearances at numerous festivals including Salzburg, Edinburgh, Paris and the Holland Festival. She has worked in North and South America and in almost every country in Europe.
Having dedicated part of her career to contemporary music, composers such as Louis Andriessen, Gerardo Gandini, Bob Zimmerman and Jeff Hamburg
have written works for her which have been recorded on CD. She was also chosen by the Oscar
-nominated Chinese composer Tan Dun to perform his works in several countries. She has worked with contemporary music ensembles like the Nieuw Ensemble, and l'ensemble Contrechamps in Geneve.
She sang the opening of the Musica Festival in Strasbourg (Il Canto Sospeso by Luigi Nono), in addition to creating her own a cappella
recital. Irish composer Elaine Agnew wrote a piece 'Snowhole' for her and members of the Irish Chamber which was performed at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Recently she appeared for the New York openair concerts.
Her love for chamber music
led to her singing duos with the mezzo-soprano Susanna Moncayo and the pianist Fernando Perez. Together they have toured in Europe and the Americas. They have recorded two CDs of this unique repertoire. They were also invited to give a gala concert in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as a wedding present for the Dutch crown prince Willem Alkexander
and his wife Maxima
.
In recent years she has been based in Ireland, where her vocal skills have been widely appreciated by press and public alike. She has also sung and acted in several feature films, including the award-winning Goodnight Vienna!
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, author and poet, who lives in Ireland and has released novels and many articles in English.
Biography
After graduating from the Royal Conservatory in The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
at a very young age, Mok won French and Dutch State Grants to study in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
under Christa Ludwig
Christa Ludwig
Christa Ludwig is a retired German mezzo-soprano, distinguished for her performances of opera, Lieder, oratorio and other major religious works like masses and passions, and solos contained in symphonic literature...
and her mother Eugenia. In Paris she studied French repertoire with Pierre Bernac
Pierre Bernac
Pierre Bernac was a French baritone.Born Pierre Bertin in Paris on January 12, 1899, he studied with Reinhold von Wahrlich in Salzburg. he came to music relatively late and gave his first recital in 1921....
and Noemie Perugia. She participated in masterclasses for contemporary music by Cathy Berberian, John Cage, Karl Heinz Stockhausen and Dorothy Dorrow. She was also chosen for masterclasses by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, DBE was a German-born Austrian/British soprano opera singer and recitalist. She was among the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century, much admired for her performances of Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, and Wolf.-Early life:Olga Maria Elisabeth Friederike...
. Prizes followed at the international vocalist competitions in Den Bosch and Barcelona.
Her lieder, oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
repertoire led to appearances at numerous festivals including Salzburg, Edinburgh, Paris and the Holland Festival. She has worked in North and South America and in almost every country in Europe.
Having dedicated part of her career to contemporary music, composers such as Louis Andriessen, Gerardo Gandini, Bob Zimmerman and Jeff Hamburg
Jeff Hamburg
Jeff Hamburg is an American composer. Born in Philadelphia, he studied acoustics and composition at the University of Illinois and moved to the Netherlands in 1978 to continue his studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague with Louis Andriessen. In 1986, he received the Conservatory Prize...
have written works for her which have been recorded on CD. She was also chosen by the Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
-nominated Chinese composer Tan Dun to perform his works in several countries. She has worked with contemporary music ensembles like the Nieuw Ensemble, and l'ensemble Contrechamps in Geneve.
She sang the opening of the Musica Festival in Strasbourg (Il Canto Sospeso by Luigi Nono), in addition to creating her own a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
recital. Irish composer Elaine Agnew wrote a piece 'Snowhole' for her and members of the Irish Chamber which was performed at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Recently she appeared for the New York openair concerts.
Her love for chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
led to her singing duos with the mezzo-soprano Susanna Moncayo and the pianist Fernando Perez. Together they have toured in Europe and the Americas. They have recorded two CDs of this unique repertoire. They were also invited to give a gala concert in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as a wedding present for the Dutch crown prince Willem Alkexander
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied...
and his wife Maxima
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
.
In recent years she has been based in Ireland, where her vocal skills have been widely appreciated by press and public alike. She has also sung and acted in several feature films, including the award-winning Goodnight Vienna!