From Classical Music to Jazz & Pop; Lisette places the oboe in a new context

At the age of nine, Lisette began her first oboe lessons. Driven by curiosity and a love for classical music, her skills quickly developed. This afforded her the opportunity to tour Europe at a young age as a musician for various classical orchestras and ensembles.

Despite a few twists and turns, including studying political science, Lisette found her way to the conservatory in Zwolle, where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Classical Music in 2023 under the guidance of oboe main subject tutors Bram Kreeftmeijer and Pauline Westen.

"Intuitively, my journey within the conservatory was not yet over," Lisette says. "Currently, I am continuing my music studies in the Bachelor's program in Jazz & Pop, this time with vocals as my main subject."

Alternating between the oboe and vocals

"The idea of continuing my studies at the conservatory came to me during the preparations for the final exams of the Bachelor's program in Classical Music. This exam required, among other things, that I manage my own production, where I was responsible for everything involved in an professional production. From designing the stage to arranging ticket sales, and of course, composing and performing my own pieces.

In these modern compositions, I aimed to create more room for improvisation and experimented by combining electronic music with the oboe's sound. Additionally, I alternated between playing the oboe and singing. By assembling a band around me, I developed my own unique production and sound that left me yearning for more. In contrast to most final exams in the Classical Music program, I decided to perform my production in a pop venue instead of a concert hall. This allowed my audience to stand and move around, and additionally, a pop venue offers many more options for an experimental light plan and stage design. It was then that I began to see the transition to Jazz & Pop as a fitting follow up for my studies in music."

I want to make the oboe, combined with vocals, sound as if it belongs in jazz or pop."

From Classical Music to Jazz & Pop

"During my first bachelorcourse, I often came across students from the Jazz & Pop course. Some of our band members are also studying in this program. By befriending them and getting into contact with their perspectives and compositions, it became increasingly appealing to me to pursue this study myself. Once I had my Classical Music diploma in hand, I just decided to go for it. So now I am studying Jazz & Pop with vocals as my main subject under the guidance of Henk Kraaijeveld and later also Zosja El Rhazi and Sarah-Jane Wijdenbosch. Of course, I still bring the oboe with me. The instrument is a part of me. I just want to use it differently than within the confines of classical music. I want to make the oboe, combined with vocals, sound as if it belongs in jazz or pop.

Future perspective

The ArtEZ Academy of Music in Zwolle hosts a diverse community of students and teachers with various backgrounds. The close-knit community is often praised for its conviviality. What Lisette appreciates about this academy is that there is hardly any competition among the students. Although most students are highly dedicated to their personal goals, there is a culture of mutual respect, allowing plenty of room for inspiring one another. By connecting with other students during project weeks or in the cafeteria, you discover different music styles and perspectives. Originally with a background in classical music, Lisette is now greatly expanding her knowledge during her Jazz & Pop studies. "I can't predict the future, but I can see myself working for other artists ranging from metal bands to jazz quartets or orchestras. All of this alongside working on my own productions and experiments, of course."