Viva Classic live

Six Finalists at Viva Cassic Live Vocal Contest in Venlo

The lyric soprano Fang Cai studied singing at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China with Prof. Xiuying Li from 2013 - 2018 and started her masters degree at the Cologne University of Music and Dance with Prof. Mario Hoff in 2019. Her concert exam will begin in 2022. Fang Cai took part in master classes with Renée Fleming and Peter Konwitschny. In 2017 she appeared at the International Modern Opera Music Festival at the University of Michigan in the USA and in 2018 as Donna Anna in the opera "Don Giovanni"" at the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival in China. Fang Cai made her debut in the 2021/22 season
Theater Hagen as the first flower girl in Richard Wagner's Parsifal; and Theater Aachen in Mozart's "Ombra Felice"

Finalists Vocal Contest 2024 - Verena Kronbichler

Verena Kronbichler, born in South Tyrol, studied singing and vocal pedagogy at the University of
Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with KS Krassimira Stoyanova and Karlheinz Hanser and at the
University of Music and Theatre in Munich in the class of KS Prof. Christine Iven and Sabine Lahm.
She is currently studying concert singing with Christiane Iven and lied interpretation with Christian
Gerhaher. She was a finalist in several competitions, including the Osaka International Music
Competition. At the Schönbrunn Palace Theatre she performed the roles of the 2nd Lady (Mozart's
"Die Zauberflöte") and Rosina (Rossini's "Il barbiere di Siviglia"), and at the Cultural Centre in
Eisenstadt (Austria) she sang Dorabella (Mozart's "Così fan tutte"). Since the 2022/23 season Verena
Kronbichler has been a member of the Opera Studio of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, where she has
appeared as Alisa (Donizetti "Lucia di Lammermoor"), Laudine's Heart (Eggert "Iwein Löwenritter"),
Sandmännchen (Humperdinck "Hänsel und Gretel"), Kate Pinkerton (Puccini "Madama Butterfly"), A
Young Babylonian (Massenet "Hérodiade") as well as in concerts. She also made a guest appearance
in Haydn's "Paukenmesse" with the Kammerphilharmonie Rhein-Erft at the Kölner Philharmonie. Her
roles for the 2023/24 season include Barena in Janáček's "Jenůfa", Annina in Verdi's "La traviata",
Soeur Mathilde in Poulenc's "Dialogues des Carmélites" and 2nd Squire in Wagner's "Parsifal". She is
also back on stage as Laudine's Heart, Sandman and Kate Pinkerton.

Finalists Vocal Contest 2024 - Tinka Pypker

For the past two years I have been part of the Opera Studio of Oper Köln. There I was able to further develop myself and gain valuable stage experience. Unfortunately, there was little time left to participate in competitions. That's why I think it would be great to pick it up again, especially in a competition that is connected to NRW and the Netherlands. I think it is a nice reward for the past two years.

Tinka Pypker has been part of the International Opera Studio of Oper Köln since the 2022/2023 season. She
performed the roles of 1st Niece in Britten's “Peter Grimes”, Zweite Zofe in Zemlinsky's “Der Zwerg”, Juliet in Boris Blacher's “Romeo und Julia” and more. She also made her debut at the Oper Wuppertal in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea in 2023. Tinka graduated from the Dutch National Opera Academy in 2021, with the role of Rosalinde in "Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss Jr. She also sang the roles of Amy March in Mark Adamo's Little Women, Maguelonne in Pauline Viardot's “Cendrillon” and Lentulo in Graun's “Cesare e Cleopatra”. Tinka also sang the roles: Papagena, La Fortuna, Venere, Pallas and Damigella (L'incoronazione di Poppea), La Speranza and La Musica (L'Orfeo).
In 2021, Tinka made her debut at the National Opera in Amsterdam, as Zweites Mädchen in
Zemlinsky's "Der Zwerg". In 2022, Tinka was a finalist at the International Vocal Competition (IVC) in Den Bosch. In 2019, Tinka obtained her bachelor's degree from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague,
summa cum laude, with distinctions for artistic maturity, vocal imagination and versatility. She also
received the “Fock Medal” for the best final exam at the Royal Conservatoire.

Finalists Vocal Contest 2024 - SoJin Yang

My passion for opera and classical music has accompanied me from an early age. The possibility of
to tell stories through music and singing fascinates me deeply. Concert experiences as a bass soloist in Fauré's Requiem and as part of the Korean National Choir showed me how music can move people. These
moments strengthened my determination to further develop my  skills and perform at the highest level..

I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Musical Theatre/Singing at the Folkwang University of the
University of the Arts in Essen to expand my repertoire and discover new facets of my voice. My motivation is
to win the hearts of audiences worldwide through continuous music-making to touch the hearts of audiences worldwide

Finalists Vocal Contest 2024 - Marija Grinevska

The Viva Classic Live Vocal Contest is a prestigious platform that offering a unique opportunity for aspiring opera singers to showcase their talents on a grand stage. Competition is my chance to tell my story
through music, and to connect with fellow artists who share their passion. Participating in this
competition is not merely about winning; it is about growth, self-discovery, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Would love the opportunity to participate in this competition!

The semi-finalists 2024

The 13 selected candidates for the semi-final Vocal Contest 2024 were:

• Anastasiia Kolabanova, Soprano, Essen
• Rosalie Ardts, Mezzo-sopraan, Tilburg
• Jihoon Do, Tenor Essen
• Kanon Adachi, Sopran, Dortmund, Berlin
• Kyle Bejnerowicz, Baritone, Maastricht, Boston
• Marija Grinevska, Soprano, Essen
• Rahel Erk,i Sopran, Raeren, Belgien
• Julia Ziehme, Mezzosopran, Köln
• SoJin Yang, Baritone, Essen
• Tinka Pypker Sopraan Köln. Den Haag
• Leon Wepner, Tenor. Köln
• Verena Kronbichler, Mezzosopran, Düsseldorf
• Fang Cai, Sopran. Krefeld, Koln

Six Finalists at Viva Cassic Live Vocal Contest in Venlo

On Wednesday September 6, 2023, Viva Classic Live organized the first edition of the Viva Classic Live Vocal Contest, on the Viva Classic Live stage on the Markt in Venlo.

Six finalists then compete for the title of most promising operatic talent in Limburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. The jury has chosen the following finalists (in alphabetical order):

• Soprano Antonia Busse from Cologne
• Baritone Yancheng Chen from Essen
• Contra alto Sandra Gerlach from Cologne
• Soprano Maaike Hupperetz from Heerlen
• Mezzo Soprano Hyejun Kwon from Dortmund
• Counter tenor Luca Segger from Cologne.

You can follow the finalists via @vocalcompetition2023.

Inspiring semifinals
The six finalists were chosen from a group of eighteen highly inspiring talents, six out Netherlands and twelve from Germany, who took part in the last Monday and Tuesday semifinals in Theater Mönchengladbach. In addition to individual auditions, they also participated with great pleasure and passion in two masterclasses by the renowned soprano Eva- Maria Westbroek and the artistic director of Opera Compact Sybrand van der Werf. The inspiring gathering of this new generation of performing artists shows once again how much talent the region has to offer and what extra opportunities cross-border cooperation can offer them. That tastes to more!

The semi-finalists 2023

The 17 selected candidates for the semi-final Vocal Contest 2023 were:

• Amy Schillings (NL)

• Antonia Busse (DE)

• Elena Plaza Cebrián (DE)

• Eline Meijs (NL)

• Hansje van Welbergen (NL)

• Hyejun Kwon (DE)

• Johann Kalvelage (DE)

• Juliane Bogner (DE)

• Luca Segger (DE)

• Maaike Huppertz (NL)

• Marija Grinevska (DE)

• Miriam Rippel (DE)

• Neele Jacobsen (DE)

• Rahel Erki (NL)

• Rosalie Ardts (NL)

• Sandra Gerlach (DE)

• Yancheng Chen (DE