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Marieke Spaans (b. 1972) has a reputation as harpsichordist on many European concert platforms. She strives for the maximum in musical expression and dialogue, combined with a thorough knowledge of early music practice. The result is a sparkling performance, full of spontaneity and deep emotions, driven by a boundless passion for the music of the 17th and 18th century.
She was prizewinner at several renowned competitions, in 1997 at the harpsichord competition of NDR Hamburg, in 2000 at the Musica Antiqua Competition of the Flanders Festival in Bruges (with her ensemble “La Calendola Amsterdam”), and in 2000 at the Competition “Premio Bonporti” in Rovereto. Marieke Spaans performs in Europe as soloist and as an ensemble member (in for example “Combattimento Consort Amsterdam”, “Ludwigsburger Festspielorchester”), in chamber music, oratorio and opera productions, led by conductors such as Wieland Kuijken, Paul McCreesh, Nicholas McGegan, Anton Steck and Jan Willem de Vriend. She also gives concerts with the outstanding violinists John Holloway and Anton Steck. She has played in all the early music festivals in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Recordings of her playing have been broadcast on television and radio throughout Europe by IKON, VARA, AVRO (Netherlands), Radio Klara (Belgium), NDR, Bayerische Rundfunk, Deutschland Radio and Arte (Germany). Marieke Spaans is Professor for Historical Keyboard Instruments at the Institute for Early Music of the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen (Germany). Before her appointment in Germany she taught at the Conservatories of Amsterdam (1994-2000) and Rotterdam (1997-2000). She teaches regularly at courses in the Netherlands, Germany and in Portugal (“Estúdio de Ópera” in Porto).
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She studied harpsichord at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam with Gustav Leonhardt, where in 1997 she received her Concert and Teaching diplomas. Besides her harpsichord studies she studied organ and church music with Pieter van Dijk, Hans van Nieuwkoop and Wolfgang Zerer. She attended many master-classes by renowned musicians such as Jos van Immerseel, Lars-Ulrik Mortensen, Luigi Tagliavini and Michael Radulescu, and is currently concentrating on fortepiano.