My name is Laura Stavinoha, I’m a soprano and singer-songwriter. For some years now, I’m developing crossover projects with classical music and theatre. I also write my own songs.

I studied musicology and voice at the University of Bristol and mastered in musicology at the University of Amsterdam, specialising in modern music. My voice education continued in Amsterdam with Lyda van Tol and Charles van Tassel. I’m currently studying with Charlotte Riedijk. My voice is very high and light, so I’m at my best singing music from renaissance, baroque, classical and contemporary traditions. Besides this, I specialise in crossover projects where classical western music meet other musical genres and disciplines like street theatre, dance music or Turkish music.

You can call me a late bloomer. For quite some time, singing was something I enjoyed doing next to my job. I have sung for the Netherlands Concert Choir and for project-based choirs. But in 2005, things started to shift. I performed as a soloist for the first time in a monodrama. This was a staged cycle of songs directed by Miranda Lakerveld. Shortly after that, I started to work with costume designer Victorine Pasman. Together we developed several performances, of which The Floating Diva is the most extraordinary. In a huge dress made of umbrellas I sing arias, floating on water. The performance was seen at many festivals and events, including Lowlands, Oerol, Solar, Festival Classique, Gergiev Festival and Festival of Flanders (BE).

In 2010, I collaborated in Masks of god project. In this staged performance Turkish musicians, western musicians and a sufi-dancer encounter a dialogue. Through music, dance and symbolism they make connections between the mystic traditions of Islam and Christianity. In 2011, I performed a staged version of Stockhausen’s Tierkreis for the Festival of Flanders. This piece of music is performed regularly, yet seldom by singers. I chose a rather unconventional instrumentation for the concert: voice and solo violin.

As a kid, I always wrote songs at the piano. Because I focused on classical music for a long time, I neglected my own music for years. But it’s never too late to catch up; Since 2010 I’ve taken up the thread again. My songs are inspired by soul from the 70s and electronic music from England. Currently, I’m working on my own repertoire and regularly performing solo, at all kinds of venues. Like at CC Muziekcafé in Amsterdam, where I’m a resident artist on the Sunday evening’s programme. More recently, I’m also performing as a trio with Oliver Franke (bass) and Boris Manintveld (drums). With them and other musicians I’m recording my debut EP, which is due to come out in the beginning of 2012.