Pien Smeets grew up with Bach in the stroller and discovered her passion for classical singing at a young age in the Schola Cantorum choir in ’s-Hertogenbosch. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Classical Music Theatre in Tilburg, where she also developed a love for acting and dancing. She then pursued acting training at the Meisner Studio with Paul Dekker in ’s-Hertogenbosch and recently completed her master’s degree at Codarts Rotterdam, studying with Charlotte Riedijk.

Additionally, she attended masterclasses with renowned singers such as Eva Maria Westbroek, Frank van Aken, Margreet Honig, Henk Neven, and Marcel Reijans, as well as coaches David Bollen, Amy Chang, and Daan Boertien.

Pien has a broad repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary music, with a special affinity for opera and art song. She has performed roles such as the Second Woman and Second Witch in Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas and has sung Despina’s arias from Mozart’s Così fan tutte under the direction of Chloe Rooke with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. With Ensemble Domestica Rotterdam, she performed Cleopatra’s aria in the Laurenskerk in Rotterdam, conducted by Wim Steinmann. Her oratorio repertoire includes works such as Bach’s Lukas-Passion, Mozart’s Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Schubert’s Missa in G, and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. This fall, Pien will perform Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.

Together with pianist Adelina Gansvind, she forms a songduo. They focus on performing theatrical art songs composed by and about women, bringing their stories to life in a theatrical way.

With her fresh, expressive singing and heartfelt storytelling, Pien strives to reach a broad and diverse audience. She continuously seeks new artistic challenges, developing herself as a versatile singer who brings opera, oratorio, and art song to life in a contemporary way.