She had been a succesfull vocal coach to singers from all levels and styles since 2003, and at this moment she has become a world-wide renowned teacher who abjudicates and teaches worldwide, from the USA to Europe, India and even Australia. Private lessons, and workshops and master classes at conservatories, to both professional and talented amateur singers and pianists.

She recorded a duet with the fantastic singer Andrea Bocelli, who she met on several occassions.
Irene is also a speaker and host for international organisations and an ambassador for many good causes. She is a member of Mensa International and speaks 8 languages.

The passion for singing …

Born into a musical family (Irene’s father was a jazz pianist, cousins work at the Vienna State Opera), Irene took her first piano lessons and general music education at the music school at the age of six. Her enthusiasm for singing did not go unnoticed in the church choir and  musicals. After graduating high school she studied International Business Administration at the Hotelschool The Hague and Psychology at the University of Amsterdam. During these studies, Irene was already seen in cabaret, musicals and in various bands. She worked and lived in the United States and worked in luxury hotels in Walt Disney World, where she later sang in the shows and in musical adaptations of the eponymous Walt Disney films. In Spain, where she also lived and worked, Irene sang the lead role in a dinner show.

After her two “sensible” studies she worked for two years as a successful Terminal Supervisor at KLM. But her passion for singing made her follow her heart, and she furthered her studies at the Conservatory of Haarlem, where she studied Musical Theatre and Piano and at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she studied Classical SInging. With a hunger for knowledge ,she followed her own musical path and to do and sing what her heart felt:

“The song “Summertime” is an example of the fact that it is simply impossible, to put music into boxes. Indeed, it is a jazz song, comes from a musical, but the original cast sings it the classical way and completely in head voice…”

Irene played  leading roles in theater productions, including the role of Maria in The West Side Story. After this, she performed in concerts and at gala’s and events all over the world.

About her performances, “Bühne” wrote:

“… Irene de Raadt surprised everyone with her tasteful rendition of various opera aria’s, but also seamingly effortless sings beautiful interpretations of American Songbook and Broadway scores. This is one of the few singers in the Netherlands, that really can be called allround. “

During the one year jubilee of an opera restaurant, where Irene sang to pay for her studies, she even got a compliment from Andrea Bocelli, who was a guest in the restaurant that evening. This would lead to the highlight ten years later: a musical encounter with this charming, fantastic singer. Famous singers Sting and Eros Ramazzotti, and food critic Johannes van Dam, both guests at the restaurant, indicated that they were charmed by her voice. As icing on the cake Irene sang for H.R.H. King Willem-Alexander, during a private dinner, along with two fellow singers of this restaurant.

Gradually, Irene was asked more and more to sing at wedding ceremonies and business events, for example Stibbe Notaries, the farewell dinner of the former director of the VPRO, at the presentation of the Advertising Woman and Man of the Year award at the State-of-the- Art Congress in Theater Panama, during the Italian days of Alfa Romeo, and opened the Maritime Fair in the RAI. Furthermore, she is often engaged for performances throughout Europe, for instance in the Waldorf Astoria in Rome, Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin and fairytale castles such as Castle Engelenburg, Zeist Castle, and Castle de Haar.

Because of her much-traveled past Irene speaks Dutch fluently besides English, Spanish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and a little Japanese and Swedish, which she uses to her advantage in her presentations.

Irene also acted in the Gelredome, where she sang at the Philips Ameezing Concert for 18,000 people and together with Do, Lois Lane, Willeke Alberti, Henk Westbroek, Intwine, Lange Frans, Bastiaan Ragas and Tooske Ragas brought a medley of famous pop and musical songs. 

Inspired by Pavarotti & Friends … Incanto: a duet show à la Pavarotti & Friends! Together with a tenor or bariton, Irene brings a dazzling vocal show with famous pop songs, beautiful arias and duets from musicals to famous operas!

In addition, there have been several appearances with various well-known artists, such as during a birthday party with Trijntje Oosterhuis and Hans Dulfer, chansons with Aldersliefste et cetera. Galas at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Rome, Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, the magnificent building of “Literaire Sociéteit de Witte” in The Hague, the International Polo World Cup, and at the International Concours Hippique in Valkenswaard, visited by HRH Prince Albert of Monaco. On these occassions, Irene was musically supported at all these occassions by the Belgian  Heverband.  Irene not only made her vocal contribution, but also was in charge of the presentation of the gala evenings.

It was in 1996 that Irene had a meeting with none other than Andrea Bocelli. Now you can listen to the duet “Ama Credi E Vai”. An appearance in “Teatro del Silenzio” in Andrea’s hometown Lajatico always had been Irene’s big dream. “Lajatico è” is a foundation of which Mr. Bocelli is the chairman. It organised five annual summer concerts in a row in Lajatico, Andrea’s birth town in the sunny hills of Tuscany. Irene was present at the concert in 2009! See also media.

Online course

Irene has never stopped learning and has put all her knowledge into several online courses, which you can find at Master The Art Of Singing.