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The Belgian soprano, pianist and music teacher, Astrid Stockman, studied Piano, Singing, Drama, Musical theater projects, Diction, Organ, Violin,...at Kunstacademie Vlaamse Ardennen (1994-2004; Also classes in musical theory, musical history, harmony, accompanying, ballet and art (drawing, painting,...); then at Lemmens Institute in Leuven, Belgium (LUCA School of Arts) (2004-2012), where she obtained her Master of Arts degree in Piano magna cum laude (2009), Master of Arts degree in Voice (Singing) magna cum laude (2012), as well as Pedagogic grade magna cum laude (2009) and First Prizes in solfège and written harmony.
Astrid Stockman has been active as a freelance soprano and performer in (experimental) music theater, opera and oratorium since September 2007 and as a voice actor since June 2016. She does not shy away from any challenge and has given convincing performances in oratorio, lied and opera, extending from early to contemporary music. Her versatility and desire to experiment make her a sought-after soloist in Belgium and abroad. She performed on major stages and festivals, such as BOZAR (Belgium), La Monnaie/De Munt (Belgium), Grec Festival Barcelona (Spain), Prisma Festival Panama (Panama), Osterfestival (Austria), Rotterdam Opera Days (The Netherlands), and many others. She has worked on a wide variety of operatic projects. Next to all of this, she is a soloist in several major oratoria compositions and toured with big ensembles such as The National Orchestra of Belgium and The Antwerp Baroque Orchestra (since December 2012).
Astrid Stockman loves bringing classical music to people who normally have little contact with it. For example, she was allowed to create a leading role in Be My Superstar, an opera about cyberbullying, produced by LOD and several European opera houses. This opera is intended for everyone aged 14 and over, but due to the subject it was mainly performed for young adults. There is also the Stokman en Vos project, where she goes to residential care centers with colleagues Liesbeth and Stijn to delight the residents with a mix of classical music, Dutch pearls and a dash of humor that would make Gaston and Leo's ears glow. She sang the title roles for children's operas at BOZAR several times, where the choir consisted of Brussels schoolchildren who had been prepared for a whole year for the big day. She sang the role of Mimi in Les desventures de Mimi, an opera for children and a collaboration with L'Auditori Barcelona and the National Orchestra of Belgium at BOZAR (June 2016). She also sang the role of Marzelline in an adaptation of L.v. Beethoven's opera Fidelio with with HETPALEIS and Walpurgis at La Monnaie / De Munt (October 2016), with which we toured throughout Flanders and France for several years to introduce very young children to opera and this story of the strong woman Leonore.
Astrid Stockman was Singer/Actress at Muziektheater Transparant (August 2011-April 2017), including: Donna Elvira in 'Opera Buffa', an adaption of W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni (co-production: Laika), Venus in J. Blow's Venus & Adonis, Belinda & First Witch in H. Purcell's Dido & Aeneas, a choreography by the Israeli Itamar Serussi, immersive opera for and with children; Medea in Medeamaterial (creation in residence) (coproduction: OPERA XXI). The recent was a soundscape opera, writeen and sang by her, directed by Aïda Gabriëls, in which she entered into a dialogue with double bassist Pieter-Jan Van Assche. His project Innerwoud is anything but classical music, but they found each other wonderfully well. She was singer at Kameroperahuis - Production house for musical theater (April-September 2017), including Madama Butterfly in 'Before I die'. She was Singer/actress at WALPURGIS (October 2015-February 2020), including the role of Marzelline in L.v. Beethoven's Fidelio.
Her heart also lies in projects that color outside the lines. In HERE by Lali Ayguadé Company she was allowed to create and perform a sung role in a production with only two dancers and one singer. The LP 'Haven' was born from this project and concerts followed in the AB and at the Feeëriën, among others. She also has a warm memory of the production 'Opera Buffa' (Laika), where they performed W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni with electric bass guitar and Hammond organ, in a lifelike restaurant setting where glasses of water sometimes flew through the air.
Her job took her to many places and stages around the world, for which I am extremely grateful. Some examples are Austria, Denmark, Montenegro, Spain, Panama, the Netherlands, France, Poland... Since 2020 she has mainly worked in Flanders, where she can also be seen making music on TV in Vive la Vie, Vive le Vélo, Tulpen uit Antwerp,...
In the education field, Astrid Stockman has been Piano Teacher at Music School Oosterzele (September 2009-August 2010); Teacher Singing and Speaking Voice Techniques at KSO Lemmensinstituut Leuven (January-February 2011); Singing Teacher, Teacher Vocal Ensemble at SAMWD Geel (January-March 2011); Lecturer in different areas (music, research initiation, creative education) and internship-counselling at the department of Teacher Training (early childhood) at UC Leuven-Limburg (September 2009-September 2012); Voice Teacher at Academie Regio Tienen in Tielt-Winge (January 2013-February 2013); Voice Teacher at Stedelijk Conservatorium Mechelen (January-May 2013); Voice Teacher at De Kunstfabriek in Duffel (June 2013); Music teacher at VZW De Bremberg in Diest (September 2012-September 2013); Piano Teacher at Gemeentelijke Muziek- en Woordacademie "Zoltan Kodaly" Wijnegem in Schilde (September-November 2013); Piano Teacher at Academie Borgerhout (November 2013-January 2014); Piano and voice teacher at De Kunstfabriek in Duffel (September 2013-July 2014); 'Teacher 'Creative piano class' at Gemeentelijke Muziek- en Woordacademie "Zoltan Kodaly" Wijnegem in Schilde (January-July 2014); Piano Teacher at Academie Ekeren (January-July 2014); Voice teacher at SAMWD Herentals (September 2014-June 2015); Voice Teacher at AMWD Aalter (September 2014-June 2015); Piano Teacher at Academie Borgerhout (September 2014-June 2016); Guest Professor on vocal techniques and musical repertoire in the educational department at AP Hogeschool Antwerpen (July 2018-July 2019);. She has been a member of the European network of opera academies since June 2017. |
