'Your artistry comes from your heart, head, and soul—that is entirely yours. If you are open to it, I am here to help you develop it. My goal is to help you become the absolute best singer you can be, so your artistry can shine through in its most powerful form.'
About the teacher
Izaline Calister is a Curaçaoan singer, composer, theater maker, and cultural ambassador who has put the music and language of her island on the international map. With her warm, expressive voice, she effortlessly blends traditional Curaçaoan rhythms and Papiamentu with jazz, world music, and Caribbean influences. Throughout her illustrious career, she has collaborated with an extraordinary roster of legendary and acclaimed artists, including Toots Thielemans, Jasper van 't Hof, George Duke, Jim McNeely, Nile Rodgers, Vince Mendoza, Benjamin Herman, Kiki Sprangers, Suzan Venemen, Leoni Jansen, Sabrina Starke, Alain Clark, Marlijn Weerdenburg, Glen Faria, and Fresku. She has also performed with prominent ensembles such as the Jazzorchestra of the Concertgebouw, Peter Beets New Jazzorchestra, the Metropole Orchestra, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Phion, and the Millenium Jazzorchestra.
Since her breakthrough in the Netherlands, she has released multiple albums and performed on prestigious national and international stages. In addition, she has developed and starred in various theatrical productions combining music, storytelling, and cultural heritage. In her shows, she translates personal stories and Curaçao's rich history into compelling musical theater, bridging tradition and contemporary expression.
For her artistic and cultural contributions, she received a royal distinction in 2018 and an Edison Award—one of the Netherlands' most important music prizes—in 2009.
Alongside her own repertoire, Calister writes for other artists and projects. She composes and writes lyrics in multiple languages, including Papiamentu, Dutch, English, and Spanish, moving seamlessly between cultures and musical worlds. Beyond her performance and writing work, she serves as a jury member for the Concertgebouw Youth Concours and the Willem Wilminkprijs for the best children's song.
As an educator, Izaline is connected to the ArtEZ Conservatory and the Amsterdam University of the Arts (ATKA), where she passes on her knowledge and craftsmanship to a new generation of creators.
