Academy of Pop Music

Working in the music industry, immersing yourself in today's dynamic mix of genres and styles, and redefining them. That is what the graduating students of the Pop Academy have been doing in recent years.

Both within and outside the walls of ArtEZ Conservatory in Enschede, they have grown into their intended roles within the music industry. For some, that means a place on stage, for others a role behind the scenes. For all of them, this is the step into the professional field.

ArtEZ Popacademie in Enschede offers a wide range of graduation options. Previous graduates have completed their studies with: a concert, their own festival, a documentary, a music school, a magazine, an EP, an album, concerts at alternative locations, and even a streaming concert at multiple locations simultaneously. The Popacademie finals 2025 will take place at various venues, such as Poppodium Metropool (Enschede + Hengelo), Wilminktheater (Enschede), Broedplaats Oogst (Hengelo), Theaterzaal ArtEZ (Enschede), and the Collegezaal (Conservatory), but venues outside the region are not out of the question!

Watch this introduction to Volkan Bilir's ArtEZ Final - I AM HERE: a total musical experience full of drums, spoken word and visuals. Together with an all-star band, he breathes new life into well-known songs and shares personal stories.

We are proud to present the graduating class of 2025:

• Eijke Anne-Li - Gitaar
• Kees Attinga - Gitaar
• Volkan Bilir - Drums
• Jasmine Bougoufa - Zang / Songwriter
• Merlin Boom - Drums
• Thomas Botermans - Toetsen
• Lateesha Buitenkamp – Singer Songwriter
• Boaz Ceelen - Drums
• Willem Epping - Gitaar / Songwriter / Producer
• Puck Finkers - Singer Songwriter
• Femke Haasjes - Zang
• Kiran Helfteren - Basgitaar
• Thomas Hofmeijer - Basgitaar
• Loïs Huisman – Singer Songwriter
• Timo Kalsbeek - Drums
• Merle Korthout - Zang
• Javy da Silva - Gitaar
• Sven van Otterloo - Gitaar
• Diede Soontiëns - Zang
• Rik Terwijn - Drums
• Roos Tijssen - Zang
• Anouk Werger - Zang