Festival of Voice: Laurence Servaes Masterclass

Laurence Servaes, soprano
​​​​​​​Louise Thomas, piano

Festival of Voice is a weekend festival celebrating the power, beauty and universality of the human voice.

As part of Festival of Voice 2026, National Concert Hall is delighted to present a masterclass with soprano, Laurence Servaes, and three up-and-coming singers.

Belgian-American soprano Laurence Servaes is known for her vivid storytelling, crystalline tone, and expressive depth. Celebrated for her magnetic stage presence and nuanced acting, she brings a poet’s sensibility and emotional immediacy to every role and recital.

Recent operatic engagements include her debut at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen as Clio in the world premiere of Crusade by Frederik Neyrinck; The Nurse in Nicholas Lens’s Shell Shock at the Philharmonie de Paris; Della in Eric Whitacre’s The Gift of the Magi at Walt Disney Concert Hall and Carnegie Hall; and Oscar in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera at the Alden Biesen Summer Opera Festival. She has also created leading roles in world premieres by Frank Nuyts and Joris Blanckaert.

An acclaimed concert and recital artist, Servaes has performed works by Bach, Mozart, Handel, and Pergolesi with ensembles including Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Lautten Compagney Berlin, the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and the Louisville Orchestra.

A dedicated recitalist and composer, she tours internationally with narrative-driven programs blending song, poetry, and her own compositions.

Pianist Louise Thomas maintains an active international performing career, appearing frequently as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, North America, and Asia. She has performed in leading concert halls including the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow, the Franz Liszt Academy Museum in Budapest, the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, among many others.

Born in Ireland, Dr. Thomas studied music at Trinity College, Dublin, before receiving a German Government scholarship to pursue advanced piano studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover. She earned her doctorate in piano performance at the University of Southern California, where she studied with John Perry.

In addition to an extensive live performance schedule, Dr. Thomas has recorded for German media and the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada and has appeared regularly on live radio and television broadcasts internationally. A sought-after collaborator, she frequently performs with violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn, who plays the legendary “Red Mendelssohn” Stradivarius.

Dr. Thomas is Professor of Music at Chapman University in California and serves as Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success.

Presented by NCH and supported by IPUT Real Estate Dublin