Harry van Berne, tenor
studied voice at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam with Erna Spoorenberg. He received additional training from Margreet Honig in Amsterdam and Anthony Rolfe Johnson in London.
Harry van Berne is much in demand as a soloist, covering a wide repertoire. He worked under well known conductors such as René Jacobs, Philippe Herreweghe, Jos van Immerseel, Ton Koopman, Michael Schneider, Jaap van Zweden, Arnold Östman, Jos van Veldhoven and Reinbert de Leeuw. He performed in many Western European countries as well as in the United States, the Middle East, Japan and South-America.
Harry gives frequent song recitals accompanied by piano, guitar, lute or chamber orchestra. His far-ranging Lied repertoire includes compositions from all artistic periods in musical history, from the early Middle Ages up to contemporary compositions, some of which were dedicated to him. A recording of Winterreise came after a long-lasting collaboration with Marien van Nieukerken.
Apart from his activities as a soloïst, Harry van Berne frequently participates in professional ensemble singing. He is member of the internationally famed solo-ensembles Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam and Quink vocal ensemble, both of which recorded a vast amount of CD’s. Van Berne also sings with The Netherlands Chamber Choir, Capella Amsterdam, Weser Renaissance and Huelgas Ensemble on a regular basis, and as a soloïst with the German woodwindensemble Capella de la Torre. With these groups he recorded many CD’s.
Harry gives workshops and masterclasses for solo singers and ensembles on specific musical subjects and artistic periods.
Since 2001 Harry van Berne has been professor of voice at the ArtEZ conservatory (Arnhem, Enschede and Zwolle). Until 2014 he was professor of voice and Head of the Voice Department at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Since 2018 he is professor at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, teaching in the Master Ensemble Singing.
Harry van Berne coaches choirs, vocal as well as instrumental ensembles and works as conductor of both choir and orchestra.