Artistic Director

Judith Janzen
Sopran

Our Artistic Director… Canadian soprano, Judith Janzen, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Children’s and Youth Choir Juventus Vocalis is no stranger to the choral community. Since 1987 she has nurtured young singers through her acclaimed work with children’s choirs and on-going vocalists. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she began her vocal and piano training at age 7. Pursuing her childhood passion of becoming a singer, she continued advanced studies in singing at the University of Music in Detmold, Germany, with a scholarship from the Canada Arts Council. Here she completed her Concert Exam “summa cum laude” with Theo Lindenbaum. Masterclasses with H. Rilling, H.M. Linde, N. Rogers, E. Cavelti, and extended studies in Milano, Italy with F. Cavalli all served to enhance her expertise. Her studies were followed by many years of recitals and concerts as well as guest engagements in the field of Opera, including Mozart’s Magic Flute (Queen of the night), Beethoven’s Fidelio (Leonore), Weber’s Freischütz (Agathe), and Nicolai’s The Merry wives of Windsor (Fr. Fluth). Ms. Janzen is able to combine her own extensive musical experience with a remarkable ability to train and motivate others, based on a genuine affection and respect for each singer. A deep conviction that ordinary children can achieve extraordinary heights, guides her singers in the pursuit of excellence, resulting not only in the nurture of musical development, but also unprecedented personal growth, which instills confidence, poise, and determination. The rapt attention earned from her charges is reflected in their singing. The vision she shares has guided her singers, individual vocal students as well as the choristers, to national recognition for excellence, having won numerous awards at the local, provincial and national/ international level. Judith Janzen is a board member of the German National Association of Singing Teachers (BDG). In addition to her private vocal studio “Bühne frei” and teaching position at the conservatory level, Ms. Janzen holds a vocal teaching position at the University for Music and Theater in Saarbrücken since 2002. Her dedication to church music is evidenced by a life-time of service to the church. From 1999 - 2009 Ms. Janzen directed the Cathedral Singing School in Speyer. In great demand to share her expertise with all levels and ages, and known for her captivating warmth and enthusiasm, invitations to appear as adjudicator, lecturer and clinician have taken Ms. Janzen across the European Continent. Her dream to establish an International Children’s Choir Festival was fulfilled in 2002 with "Touch the Future”.