Vincent Kusters – Baritone
Dutch baritone Vincent Kusters is a sought-after concert and art song performer, equally at home in oratorio and opera, with a strong affinity for the Lied repertoire. His wide-ranging repertoire spans from the Middle Ages to contemporary compositions, several of which have been written especially for him. In addition to his work as a vocal soloist, he is also active as a pianist, conductor, organist, and voice teacher. In 2023, he founded the J.M. Vogl Foundation for the Art of Singing.

Vincent has performed as a soloist in numerous orchestral productions, including major oratorios by Bach, Händel, Haydn, and Mendelssohn, as well as Masses by Mozart, Beethoven, and Britten, and works by contemporary composers such as Rutter, Chilcott, and Jenkins. He has collaborated with conductors including Ed Spanjaard, Patrick van der Linden, Huub Ehlen, and Duncan Ward, and with orchestras such as Philzuid, Concerto Brabant, Bach Collegium ’s-Hertogenbosch, and the East Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. He has also worked with choirs and ensembles including Studium Chorale, Concertkoor Haarlem, Toonkunstkoor Roermond, and the University Choir Maastricht.

Vincent has received numerous international awards, including the Vocallis Lied Prize (twice, 2017 and 2018), first prize at Liedkunst im Schloss vor Husum (2021 and 2023), the Schubert Interpretation Prize at the International Lied Competition Görlitz (2022), and the Friends of the IVC Prize in ’s-Hertogenbosch (2019). He was first prize winner of the Young Artist Platform at the International Lied Festival Zeist (2022), first prize winner of the International Organ-Vocal Competition in Neuss (2020), and winner of the International Robert Schumann Video Competition for Piano and Voice(2020/2021). He was also a finalist at the Concours International de Chant-Piano Nadia et Lili Boulanger in Paris (2022).

Vincent has given song recitals in the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Switzerland. He has performed at major festivals such as the 5th International Festival of Sacred Music (Poland, 2023), Liedkunst im Schloss vor Husum (2023), Oxford International Song Festival (2022), Gstaad Menuhin Festival (2022), Schlesische Musikfeste (Germany/Poland, 2022), and the Amare February Festival (The Hague, 2022). He has been listed in the roster of soloists of the Friends of the Art Song Society (Vrienden van het Lied) since 2018. Vincent regularly collaborates with pianist Charlie Bo Meijering, as well as with Hans Eijsackers, Julius Drake, Ed Spanjaard, David Lutz, Roger Braun, and Reinild Mees. His Lied repertoire includes more than 500 songs, including the major cycles by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, Fauré, Ravel, and Vaughan Williams. Although especially drawn to the Romantic Lied, his repertoire spans from Classical to contemporary, including new commissions written specifically for him.

Vincent has appeared in several opera and music theatre productions. He performed the role of Peter in Brahms’ Magelone & Peter with the Dutch National Touring Opera (Nederlandse Reisopera) from 2020–2022, and has performed in productions by Productiehuis Limburg. He has worked with conductors such as Ben Weishaupt and Frenk Rouschop, and with stage directors including Sybrand van der Werf and Rennik-Jan Neggers.

He has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Ulf Bästlein and Charles Spencer (Husum, 2023), Robert Holl and Sir András Schiff (Gstaad, 2022), Sergei Leiferkus (Berkenrode, 2021), Elly Ameling (Podium Witteman, 2021), Vesselina Kasarova, Thomas Oliemans, and Roberta Alexander (’s-Hertogenbosch, 2020), Julius Drake (Zeist, 2018), and Maarten Koningsberger (Vaals, 2012). He also studied with Meinard Kraak (2017, Vaals), who coached him intensively for many years thereafter.

Vincent studied classical voice and piano at the Maastricht Conservatory with Mya Besselink and Joop Celis (Bachelor 2009–2014, Master 2014–2017). He undertook an Erasmus exchange in voice with Reginaldo Pinheiro at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (2014–2015), and studied piano with Willem Brons at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (2016–2017). He also completed a postgraduate programme in choral conducting at the Utrecht Conservatory (2017–2018).

In 2023, Vincent founded the J.M. Vogl Foundation for the Art of Singing, named after the famous singer and friend of Schubert. The foundation provides a platform for the art of singing, with a focus on Lied, and supports promising young talent.

Vincent is a member of Schola Maastricht, a professional ensemble specialising in Gregorian chant. He is the organist and conductor of the Bartholomeuskerk in Eckelrade, cantor/organist at the Sint-Martinuskerk in Gronsveld, and conductor of the St. Caecilia choir at Sint-Pieter in Maastricht.
He also teaches singing at the Major Seminary Rolduc and the Abbey of Saint Benedict in Mamelis.