“All music tells a story and has the power to touch people, regardless of genre, language, or background.”
With this thought in mind, Diana makes music. She does this in every possible way, as there are a thousand and one forms to tell a story.
After finding a job as a lawyer in 2006, she chooses a future in music in 2008. With a toolbox of musical and vocal capabilities in both the light and the classical genre, she completes her conservatory education in 2012 and starts looking for her place in the musical landscape. It turns out to be one of unity in diversity.
In 2013, she starts a duo collaboration with double bassist Harry Emmery. In the special formation of ‘voice & bass,’ the duo explores well-known and lesser-known pieces from jazz and pop in their unique way.
2014 brings two new projects: a theater concert about the lives and music of Peggy Lee and Nina Simone, named Peggy & Nina (in collaboration with Louise Hensen), and Jazz & Poetry. In this last formation, the duo with Harry Emmery is extended with writer/poet Katja Gebbink. Together they present a program in which they interweave poetry and music.
In the summer of 2015, she presents the program ‘From Ramses to Rossini, a desperate recital’ on stage during Delft Fringe 2015, along with Rik Helmes (piano) and Piet van der Pas (direction). This theatrical sequence of opera, cabaret show tunes, and Ramses Shaffy ends with a maximum rating of five stars and a second place for the Delft Fringe audience award 2015. During the Rijswijks Pracht festival 2016, Diana and her colleagues receive the jury prize for this program.
Her collaboration with Harry Emmery culminates in the summer of 2015 with the release of her first (self-titled) album. Click here to listen to the tracks.
With guitarist Paul den Bakker and director Piet van der Pas, she develops the theatrical music performance TOUT FINIT PAR DES CHANSONS about the heyday of French literary chanson with the birthplace being the Parisian district Saint-Germain-des-Prés. This performance also debuts very successfully at the Delft Fringe Festival. The full-length performance premiered in 2017. In 2019/2020 the performance will be seen on various stages. In October 2018, the album TOUT FINIT PAR DES CHANSONS was released via the record label TRPTK. On March 17, 2019, Diana and her guitarist Paul den Bakker were in the finals of the Concours de la chanson at Theater Diligentia in The Hague.
In addition to TOUT FINIT PAR DES CHANSONS, Diana, together with guitarist Paul den Bakker and actor/storyteller Piet van der Pas, brings their new performance Eb & Vloed to the stage in 2019/2020. Eb & Vloed is a string of musical and literary gems. Poetic, confronting, humorous, touching, and surprising. The work of, among others, Kurt Tucholsky, Kate Bush, Annie M.G., Brel, Levi Weemoedt, Steven Sondheim, Toon Tellegen, and the Argentine poets Alfonsina Storni.
Since 2021, Diana has been a vocal technique teacher at the Jazz Department of the Amsterdam Conservatory.
Diana van der Bent
“All music tells a story and has the power to touch people, regardless of genre, language, or background.”
With this thought in mind, Diana makes music. She does this in every possible way, as there are a thousand and one forms to tell a story.
After finding a job as a lawyer in 2006, she chooses a future in music in 2008. With a toolbox of musical and vocal capabilities in both the light and the classical genre, she completes her conservatory education in 2012 and starts looking for her place in the musical landscape. It turns out to be one of unity in diversity.
In 2013, she starts a duo collaboration with double bassist Harry Emmery. In the special formation of ‘voice & bass,’ the duo explores well-known and lesser-known pieces from jazz and pop in their unique way.
2014 brings two new projects: a theater concert about the lives and music of Peggy Lee and Nina Simone, named Peggy & Nina (in collaboration with Louise Hensen), and Jazz & Poetry. In this last formation, the duo with Harry Emmery is extended with writer/poet Katja Gebbink. Together they present a program in which they interweave poetry and music.
In the summer of 2015, she presents the program ‘From Ramses to Rossini, a desperate recital’ on stage during Delft Fringe 2015, along with Rik Helmes (piano) and Piet van der Pas (direction). This theatrical sequence of opera, cabaret show tunes, and Ramses Shaffy ends with a maximum rating of five stars and a second place for the Delft Fringe audience award 2015. During the Rijswijks Pracht festival 2016, Diana and her colleagues receive the jury prize for this program.
Her collaboration with Harry Emmery culminates in the summer of 2015 with the release of her first (self-titled) album. Click here to listen to the tracks.
With guitarist Paul den Bakker and director Piet van der Pas, she develops the theatrical music performance TOUT FINIT PAR DES CHANSONS about the heyday of French literary chanson with the birthplace being the Parisian district Saint-Germain-des-Prés. This performance also debuts very successfully at the Delft Fringe Festival. The full-length performance premiered in 2017. In 2019/2020 the performance will be seen on various stages. In October 2018, the album TOUT FINIT PAR DES CHANSONS was released via the record label TRPTK. On March 17, 2019, Diana and her guitarist Paul den Bakker were in the finals of the Concours de la chanson at Theater Diligentia in The Hague.
In addition to TOUT FINIT PAR DES CHANSONS, Diana, together with guitarist Paul den Bakker and actor/storyteller Piet van der Pas, brings their new performance Eb & Vloed to the stage in 2019/2020. Eb & Vloed is a string of musical and literary gems. Poetic, confronting, humorous, touching, and surprising. The work of, among others, Kurt Tucholsky, Kate Bush, Annie M.G., Brel, Levi Weemoedt, Steven Sondheim, Toon Tellegen, and the Argentine poets Alfonsina Storni.
Since 2021, Diana has been a vocal technique teacher at the Jazz Department of the Amsterdam Conservatory.
Discography
Tout Finit par des Chansons
Diana van der Bent
Paul den Bakker