My name is René Veen. I am working as a tenor, composer / arranger and pianist.

I graduated in 1981 in Utrecht for organ, piano and choir conducting. After that I continued my vocal studies. 

 

Over 30 years I am singing in ensembles such as Collegium Vocale Gent(Director: Philippe Herreweghe), the Nederlandse Bachvereniging(Director: Jos van Veldhoven), Cappella Amsterdam(Director: Daniel Reuss). I sing also with the Ribatutta-Ensemble, Nederlands Kamerkoorand the Zürcher Singakademie. As a soloist I perform in opera, oratorio and recital. With Sabine van der Heijden and Marjolein de Graaff, we form the ensemble ‘Vliegende Stukken’.

 

I am pianist/composer in the One-Woman shows of Marjolein de Graaff.

Besides that I accompany other singers in recital.

 

As a composer I create music theatre, music for choirs  and songs. I arranged and composed muzic for various ensembles such as Zest, The Gents, Frommermann, Singer Pur, Lieve Lust, Sixtonics, Fuego Latino. Some of these pieces are on CD released and/or published (by publishers as Schott in Mainz). 

In 2017 and 2018 I composed the theatermusic for “The Golden Dragon” a play of Roland Schimmelpfennig, and for “Hebriana” a play from Lars Noren.

He composed the aria for soprano and orchestra for the show from Marjolein de Graaffdue to the Amsterdam Cabaret Festival in 1015 where she won the second prize. In August 2014 he sang with Francesca Lanza, soprano and tenor Augusto Valenca and pianist Anna Barbero Beerwald a recital in Tempio Valdese (Piedmont, Italy) where his Five arrangements on Haydn Songs for soprano, two tenors and piano successfully premiered. In 2013 his opera Dora, een liefdesgeschiedenis premiered at the City Festival in Zwolle. The opera was performed as successfully 15 times. He sang one of the roles himself.

 

I am  musical leader and house composer for the Music-Theater group  ZESTin Utrecht. 

 

I work as a singing teacher and vocal coach for individual students and choirs.

As Teacher advanced eartraining and solvege for  master studies I worked at the  Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (HKU) (2009-2012).

 

Compositions (see my page compositions for a more complete list)

2018; Theatermusic fort he play “Hebriana”from Lars Noren

2017; Theater music fort he play“The golden dragon”from Roland Schimmelpfennig

Songs on texts from Bette Westera for youth choir and piano. Premiere of some of this songs was in 2016 by Youth choir Senta, direction; Sylvia vd Vinne. They won with this composition the 3th price in the national Choir Festival in the Netherlands in 2016.

Een witte ochtendfor choir a capella. Premiere was by Collegium Utrecht in two concerts under his direction

Five arrangements of Haydn Songsfor soprano, two tenors and piano (Premiere in Recital at Tempio Valdese in Torre Pellice, Piemonte, Italy)Opera Dora, een liefdesgeschiedenis(2013) after a book of Toon Tellegen. Libretto: Alice Zwolschen (premiere: September 2013 in Stadsfestival Zwolle)4 duets for 2 tenors and piano (2012)Duets for soprano tenor and piano3 songs on texts of M.Vasalis for mezzos-oprano and melodic percussion (2011)Several songs on texts of, François Villon, Annie M.G.Schmidt, Malcolm BennettGerman Folksong Die Kuckuck und der Eselwas commisioned by the German vocal group "Singer Pur" and is published by editor Schott. It is released on the CD "Safe our Songs"Arranged music for The Gents, Frommermann, Fuego Latino and other groups and ensembles. Some of that music is released on CD by different ensembles.Arrangements from Argentinian Tango's for voice and instrumental ensemble.Spirituals for a-cappella ensemble