Canadian tenor Jan van der Hooft has been described as “a rare breed… with an exciting lyricism in the sound…”.
A multifaceted performer, Jan has made professional debuts with Manitoba Opera, Calgary Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria and Vancouver Opera. He is a two year alumnus of the Emerging Artist Program at Calgary Opera, holds a Masters of Voice from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, a Post-Baccalaureate as well as an Undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance from the Desautel Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba.
Respected for his interpretation of new music, Jan has been involved in several contemporary operatic works over the last several years. During his appointment in Calgary, he premiered the role of ‘Nephew’ in Ghost Opera by Veronika Krausas, at The Banff Centre, and understudied the role of ‘Rob Hall’ Calgary’s 2019 production of Joby Talbot’s Everest. Later that fall, Jan sang ‘Devon’ in Pacific Opera Victoria’s remount of Missing (music by Brian Current, libretto by Marie Clements) and was later cast as ‘Bear’ in the children’s opera ‘The Flight of the Hummingbird’. A touring co-production by Pacific Opera Victoria and Vancouver opera, this production features music by Maxime Goulet and a libretto, set and costume design by local Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas.
Jan has also been in demand as concert soloist with several organizations across Canada. Noteworthy groups include the Ewashko Singers and Capella Antica (Ottawa/ Montreal), the Red Deer Symphony, Early Music Voices Calgary, and the Calgary Festival Chorus, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Early Music Society of the Islands, and the Victoria Choral Society. His performance credits include the role of the Evangelist in Bach’s St. John Passion, tenor soloist in both Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Zelenka’s Mass in C minor, the Archangel Uriel in Hayden’s Creation and tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah.
Jan also works as a freelance photographer and videographer in and around Victoria, and in his spare time he enjoys an active lifestyle or a nice stroll with his wife or with his camera.
This is his first year teaching at the Victoria Conservatory of Music in the Ann & George Nation Conservatory School of Classical Music’s Voice Department.