Marcus van den Akker

Key details:

Department:
Music | Vocal Studies
Role:
Principal Study Professor

Dutch-Australian Baritone and specialist classical voice trainer Marcus van den Akker, was born in Ossendrecht – The Netherlands and emmigrated to Australia in 1980. He began his musical training on the trumpet and changed his principal study to voice two years into his Bachelor degree at The Victorian College of the Arts. He won various honourable awards including the Mable Kent Singing Scholarship, City of Melbourne Recital Awards, Australian Music Foundation Award, The Queensland Arts Office Award, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust Award and Association of Australian Artists Award.

He became a versatile and consummate performer of recital and oratorio genres, which have included radio broadcasts in the Netherlands and Australia. His various operatic roles have included performances in Australia, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Italy.

Marcus has a strong passion and talent for training and guiding classical singers. His teaching has at its foundation an holistic approach, with a thorough working knowledge of modern vocal pedagogy. He has a direct and meticulous teaching style, strongly influenced and evolved through the ideals of the Bel-Canto school (indirectly Celletti through Nicolai Kok director Belcanto Festival- Netherlands), Joseph Ward OBE, Brain Hansford (student of Hans Hotter) Jo Estill, as well as Janice Chapman OAM & Raymond Connell both with whom he maintains a strong collaborative working relationship. His teaching & training has further evolved through his studies in movement with Anna Sweeney AM, Alexander Technique, Rudolf Laban Principles and Accent Method with Ingrid Rugheimer.

He runs a successful private studio in London and is on staff at the Guildhall School of Music since 2012. He has held teaching positions at Westminster School in London and in Australia the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School for gifted musicians and dancers, The Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music and The Victorian College of the Arts School of Music. He is requested for examination, audition, consultation panels as well as course planning advice.

Marcus is currently engaged with the creation of the new Classical Voice Centre CIC, a new centre dedicated to serving and promoting classical singing.