Biography
Jan Wouters
Jan Wouters (b. 1993) is a Belgian countertenor with a rich and diverse musical background. He began his musical studies in his hometown of Herentals, where he studied oboe, piano, and voice. In 2013, he graduated with the highest distinction from the arts high school Heilig Graf Turnhout, studying voice with soprano Nele Geerinckx.
He continued his vocal training at LUCA School of Arts, campus Lemmens in Leuven, earning his bachelor’s degree with great distinction in 2016 under the guidance of Gerda Lombaerts. In 2018, he completed his master’s degree in Konzertgesang at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich with the highest honors, studying with Fenna Kügel-Seifried.
Jan has participated in masterclasses with esteemed teachers such as Maarten Koningsberger (Amsterdam/Paris), Roberta Alexander (Rotterdam), Monica Benvenuti (Florence), W. Stephen Smith (Juilliard, New York), Janice Chapman & James Platt (Guildhall, London), and Kai Wessel (Cologne).
His talent has been recognized through numerous awards. In 2013, he won first prize at Belfius Classics in Brussels and was a laureate of the Princess Christina Competition in ’s-Hertogenbosch. In 2018, he was a finalist and laureate at the prestigious International Vocal Competition in ’s-Hertogenbosch. Further accolades include second prize at the Triomphe de l’Art competition in Brussels (2019), a silver medal at the 1st Vienna International Music Competition, a gold medal at the 4th Manhattan International Music Competition, and second prize at the Cascais Opera Competition 2024 in Lisbon. In January 2020, he was awarded the Gouden Label Jong Talent (Golden Label Young Talent) by Klassiek Centraal.
„Starken Eindruck hinterlässt auch Jan Wouters, dessen warm timbrierter Countertenor sich perfekt mit den Stimmen seinen Partnerinnen mischt.“
Münchner Merkur 2021 – Tobias Hell
Jan made his operatic debut in Munich in 2017 with Jonathan Dove’s Flight. That same year, he performed the role of Tolomeo in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, and in 2018, he took on the roles of Herr C and Evangelizzatore in the contemporary opera liminal space, also in Munich. In the 2019–2020 season, he debuted with Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and, in March 2020, sang his role debut as Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Prinzregententheater in Munich. He reprised this role in the 2021–2022 season with Opera Zuid, touring throughout the Netherlands.
Even during his studies, Jan was a sought-after soloist. His concert repertoire includes alto solos in Messiah and Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (Handel), St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, Christmas Oratorio, and various cantatas (Bach), Petite messe solennelle (Rossini), Stabat Mater (Pergolesi, Vivaldi, Tuma), Gloria (Vivaldi), Come, ye sons of art (Purcell), Te Deum (Charpentier), Nelson Mass (Haydn), Requiem (Mozart), Cavell Mass (Mitchell), and Sea Pictures (Elgar) — notably becoming the first countertenor ever to perform this cycle with orchestra.
He has collaborated with ensembles such as Ensemble Octopus, Philharmonie Zuidnederland, and the Münchner Rundfunkorchester, and has worked under the baton of renowned conductors including Karel Deseure, Jan Müller-Wieland, Ulf Schirmer, Hartmut Haenchen, and Nicholas Cleobury.