Kelly Poukens
soprano
actress
performer
maker
Picture: ©Anne Verbist
About
Although Kelly’s voice and colour is perfect for performing the classical techniques of opera, she is known for ticking more than one box: crossing lines and pushing boundaries are a way of life to her and she looks for “truthfulness” through opera, musical theatre, experimental music and daring concepts.
Her introduction into the international scene of opera made the love she cherishes for contemporary theatre and opera flourish. She sang the lead in WEAR (nominated for the Scottish New Music Awards 2019), ROBE (nominated for the Creative Edinburgh Awards 2019) and WOAD, scored by A. White in London – see trailer above. She won several prizes, one of which was the Stiftung Blatow Price in the International Anton Rubinstein Competition in Germany and the Prix Sophie Laureates Award.
A selection of roles performed: “Trio Girl” in Trouble in Tahiti (Dutch National Opera) – “Frasquita” in Carmen (Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra) – “Regan” in King Lear and “Anitra” in Peer Gynt (Brussels Philharmonic). For a more extensive list, look here. Most recently she played the part of “Marie-Catherine” in the musical play Landru (Het Banket, I Solisti). She was selected to compete in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2023.
Kelly performed Lieder in the Henry Le Boeuf Hall, BOZAR centre for Fine Arts and the Frits Philips Music Hall in the Netherlands. She regularly performs with several orchestras – from which one performance “I shall love but thee” can be heard via the button above. Next to that, she has several projects coming up with Dutch pianist Heleen Vegter and she is also a permanent choir member at the Vlaams Radio Koor.
She got her master’s degree in singing and in chamber music at the Luca School of Arts in Leuven. At Fontys school for fine Arts, she obtained a master’s degree in classical music summa cum laude and was coached by Jard van Nes. Kelly then took masterclasses at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and at the National Opera in London. She also was an artist in residence for TalentLab in Luxembourg.
At the present moment, Kelly is being coached by American soprano Roberta Alexander and she regularly is taught by English soprano Dame Felicity Lott and American soprano Jennifer Larmore.
Picture: ©Anne Verbist
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