Bio

Mezzo soprano Patricia PE Janssen started her musical career aged 8 in the Academy of Merksem (Antwerp). She started with the flute for which she obtained her degree in 1998. For some time she experimented with the clarinet after which she discovered the pleasure of singing.

After studying classical techniques with Dirk Van Croonenborch and Martine Renson, she focused on musical theatre with Pascal De Turck at dé Kunsthumaniora in Antwerp. Wim Lancrock and Frank Hoelen guided her for drama.

She loved the combination singing-theatre, but her passion remained early music. Stratton Bull (Cappella Pratensis) was her private tutor for 3 years, until she moved to Cambridge (UK). Upon her return, she continued her study with Lieven Termont (Capilla Flamenca) at the Conservatoire of Leuven where she graduated in 2013. As an active member of AOTOS and NATS she regularly follows refreshers courses and ensures she stays up to date with the latest scientific developments and all kinds of vocal techniques.

During her stay in England, she sang with The Cantus Singers of Cambridge and the chamber choir Cantores. In 2004 she founded the ensemble Mensurabilis which continues with Belgian musicians since 2009. The repertoire consists of Medieval and early Renaissance music.

As a singer, she has performed in choral projects directed by e.g. Sigiswald Kuijken, Nicholas Achten, Bart Van Reyn, Etienne Siebens, Michel Tabachnik, Paul Dombrecht, Dirk Snellings, Erik Van Nevel, Hendrik Vanden Abeele, Rebecca Stewart, James MacMillan and Eric Whitacre.

She had a part in the following (musical)theatre productions: Anniek, the computerfreak (ensemble), Als een vlieg in een fles (ensemble), Leonce en Lena (Lena), Les indes Galantes (choir), Believe in yourself (Eliza Doolittle, ensemble), Dido and Aeneas (choir) and De Minneburcht (storyteller).

She still focuses on early music, amongst which Medieval musical theatre, but also performs contemporary classical music, amongst which as a member of SWARA vocal ensemble.

Between February 2013 and June 2019 she taught singing, piano, accompaniment and fast track solfège in AMW Lubbeek. Her class was invited to perform the creation of a new work by Vladimir Gorlinsky during the TRANSIT festival in October 2013. In 2015 they created their own musical Any dream will do and in 2016 they explored the world of opera in Ceci n’est pas un opéra, Orpheus with a twist. In 2019 they gave a concert including duets, trios and ensemblepieces, for which she also created the Female Desire vocal ensemble project.

The joy of making music is something she considers really important. That's why she founded Music in-a-company in 2019 -after the AMW was dismantled by the city council-, a non-profit music academy which offers qualitative courses to all with a focus on the pleasure of making music, whilst keeping an eye on a good technical foundation.

She continues specialising with Medieval Music Besalu (University of Lleida) where she obtained the University Specialist Certificate in Medieval Music Research and Performance for voice and medieval harp in 2024.

Additionally, she works as a choral conductor. Previously, she guided Solidariteitskoor Kontrarie, Amabile Holsbeek and Sin Serio in their choral journey, and at the moment she's working on her next choral project.

She is active as a breathing and vocal therapist, and organises singing for health sessions for people with breathing issues (long Covid and astma) and for people with Parkinson's. As a vocal habilitation professional, she provides workshops and individual coaching on efficient voice use to people with a speaking profession, theater companies and dance teachers, and helps people to find their own voice.