• „Ich bin Toos van der Wal, Altistin, und bin seit 2017 sowohl am Stadttheater Bern tätig als auch freischaffend im Oratorium Repertoire. Susanne Schimmack war meine Professorin während meines Master Studiums am Konservatorium Maastricht. Vorher habe ich studiert als hoher Mezzosopran. Durch die Tatsache, dass ich im falschen Stimmfach ausgebildet wurde, hatte ich zu viel Spannung in Kiefer und Oberkörper. Frau Schimmack hat sehr schnell erkannt, dass Mozart und das hohe Mezzo Repertoire nicht für mich passt. Wir haben das Repertoire meiner Altstimme entsprechend verändert und sie hat mich gelehrt, meinen ganzen Körper zu spüren und zu nutzen. Damit hat sie mein Leben verändert.

Frau Schimmack ist eine sehr engagierte, inspirierende Lehrerin, die hart mit all ihren Schülern an einem authentischen, gesunden Klang arbeitet.“

Mit freundlichen Grüssen,

Toos van der Wal (ALUMNA)

• „Since I started studying vocal technique with Susanne Schimmack, my voice has developed perfectly in a short period of time, the sound enriched itself, it terms of resonance it has expanded hugely into an operatic sound. 

Susanne is one of the most dedicated teachers I ever met, she knows exactly what kind of repertoire will suit you, she is passionate, always ready to help you and guide you, since we started working together I couldn’t be more grateful to her gratitude and honesty, she wants the very best for her students. Furthermore she also expects compromise, and dedication from her students.

Prof. Susanne is the kind of singing teacher that knows how the musical industry works, because of her experience and career as an opera singer, and in my experience those qualities in a teacher are very hard to find.

I am currently learning technical aspects of the opera technique, support, breathing, musical environment, resonance, the fundamental sound, passagio, I am also incorporating a lot of new repertoire that she proposed to me.“

Kind regards,

Nair Gimenez, BA4. Maastricht 21/11/2019

• „I have only been working with Susanne Schimmack for almost three months, but in this time I’ve found a teacher with a deep knowledge of everything related to the world of singing, as well as a strong empathy with the student and how to convey all this knowledge in a convincing and affective way to the students. In my case she is helping me to develop my qualities and I really appreciate the work, the effort and the commitment she has shown me since she is my teacher. I’m looking forward to working with her as I feel I’m with the right teacher for improving every aspect of my singing.    „

Daniel Mosquera Martínez, BA4

• “Susanne Schimmack is not only a fantastic teacher, but a mentor, life coach, therapist and all the other fun stuff that comes with singing.

The foremost important thing she teaches us is being true to ourselves and to our nature, to discover our natural voice and to not be afraid of whatever we might discover. She creates a healthy and opportunistic environment where we are free to discover and experiment! She teaches us things like technique, breath support, pronunciation and history but also (and of equal importance) musicality, passion, stage presence and helps and encourages us to find and endulge in our own originality and personality.

She is a wonderful woman and teacher who has helped me grow as a singer and as a person and is the reason I am studying at the Maastricht Conservatory.“

Gwenaelle Ghislain, BA3

• „This is the fourth year I work with Susanne Schimmack. She has really changed the perception I had about singing.

Technically, Susanne and I are working on the connection and the body openness. She tries to get me to find a balance between tension and relaxation.

She has also taught me how to be stronger vocally, physically but especially morally. She teaches us how to give 100% of ourselves to our passion but always respecting ourselves and our voice. 

Susanne Schimmack is a mix of strictness and kindness. She does really care about all of us and at the same time, she prepares us for the « outside world ». She does want us to work hard to always go further in our voice research.

In Susanne’s class, I’ve learned how to find my real voice, how to sing without hurting myself and how to take care of my voice health. I’ve also found in her somebody I can count on, somebody I can talk to and I feel very close with. „

Laura Verlinden, MA1

• „Susanne Schimmack is a wonderfully enthusiastic voice teacher, whose passion for her work is always present. She brings her vast experience on stage to the teaching room, which is endlessly inspirational to aspiring performers. Her investment in each individual voice does not go unnoticed, and the support she offers to each student is above and beyond that of just a teacher. I am lucky to have such a knowledgeable, encouraging and caring mentor.“

Ami Hewitt, MA1

• „Susanne as a teacher:

      1. passionate

      2. Inspiring

      3. Has her own belief in the way a voice should sound

      4. Lives a warm way of producing sound

      5. Intuitive

      6. Sometimes explosive

      7. Can be very intense

      8. Protective

      9. Believes in her students

     10. Searches for new ways and trying to constantly evaluate her  

            Experiments wither her students

      11. Creative

      12. Emotional

Karina Kambulova, recent Alumna

• „I had the pleasure working with “Frau Schimmack” during my studies at the Maastricht Conservatorium. She has been an undeniable enrichment for my studies in the Netherlands. She never asked me to call her “Frau Schimmack” but this title comes from a deep respect and also friendship I found in her.

Susanne is someone valuable for the long run. The build-up of her pedagogy seem sometimes slow and with endless focus on the low register of the voice. From that “base” she will then work up. Somehow I recognise she has a good feeling when to let a singer go to the higher registers. I do admire her choice to calm, for example, young sopranos before letting them do all the necessaire experiments on their high money notes.

This brave decision has worked for many singers and also worked-out very positively for me. I need to state she has never been my main teacher but I have watched her closely working with many of my colleagues and I have had the pleasure to be subject of her teaching myself several times.

As a countertenor I specifically searched contact with her to work on my Baritone voice and experiment. Schimmack is a teacher that is not scared of experimenting but has a clear idea of the goals she wants to reach there. She does not give up when the language of herself and the student seem not to have a similar translation. She also accepts different metaphors without losing her own vocabulary.

The secure building-up she has for her lessons, that sometimes are perceived as “slow”, can be difficult for the conservatory structures but is very valuable for the singer on the long run. As a student it is important, while working with this teacher, to really sign up! Schimmack asks a lot, next to vocal dedication you will also need to develop human aspects as: honesty, emotionality and will. Then, when you find your own language to work with her, she will support you in all of those aspects.

To trust a teacher is not everyone’s best talent. I consider it also not a sign of commitment if you trust and accept all what your teacher tells you, at once. I have always been very critical in my lessons with her and I have still not accepted all she has thought me.

But Susanne, as a person and as a teacher, is someone I admire. I have seen many great results of her teaching in other singers and also in my own practise I keep an eye on what she has thought me. „

With kind Regards,

Bas Van Damme Countertenor // Bachelor (Conservatorium Maastricht), Master (conservatoire Royal de Liège, in progress) Wijngaard 11, 3110 Rotselaar (Belgie) November 21, 2019

• „Dear Susanne,

You have asked me to write down how you are as a teacher.

First of all, I am still feeling very lucky and blessed that you chose me as one of your students. During our time at the Conservatory we had our ups and downs.

My review to you as a teacher:

You are a hard working teacher who wants the best for her students. I have to admit you were very strict but that strictness has led to discipline. Wich we need if we want to become a singer in the big scary world. The other teachers don’t teach that kind of discipline. The reason that you are so strict, is because you want us to grow and be able to do things on our own when we graduate. In my case it has worked and I am happy you did so.

One of the things I also admire, you are honest. Even when the truth hurts us, you told us the reality and woke us up so we can work on the things that need to be fixed. You are an open teacher, you tell us your struggles so we can see that teachers are humans too and also still learning, not one of those teachers who “knows it all” and must obey what he or she is telling you. Also, you give your students their freedom to explore who they are as an artist. Well at least you did that to me. You let me choose my own repertoire and musical choices. Most important, you also supported me. Especially a lot of conservatory teachers do not work like that.

So a little summary of how I think of you.

You give us freedom.

You learn us discipline.

You learn us to be ourselves.

And most important you really care for your students.

Also you are very inspiring. You are not scared to show yourself as a singer, wich is important because you are a singing teacher and some teacher are scared to perform in front of their students so they say that they have a cold or something…

And you fight in what you believe in!

Keep doing that because you are doing good! „

Sincerely,  Youngky Eurlings, Alumnus

• „Susanne is the kind of teacher which makes his student transcend his/her own possibilities, allowing/him or her to discover a new world of sounds within the voice of the student through her thorough knowledge of music, singing technique, anatomy and – last but not least – life! I will never forget my first lesson with her, where I was blown away what my voice was actually capable of, and even more and heard the recording I myself did… I couldn’t believe my voice could sound like that! So many new good properties added in a blink of an eye. It’s a long path until I become the singer I want to be, but I know for sure that will always have a great impact when I will arrive to that point!“

Filipe Neves Curral

• „I am having singing lessons with Susanne Schimmack for the past three years and each lesson is a unique experience to me. Mrs. Schimmack has helped me to regain my vocal health and balance, after I have trained my voice in a very harmful way during my years at a Conservatory and with former vocal teachers. Until today, she has encouraged me to develop a more holistic view on my voice and how it is connected to my whole organism. I am very thankful that within her lessons, she creates a lot of room for all my questions. This is very special, because a lot of other voice teachers would not take the time to answer or talk about them. But these open conversations, and how she guides me through a lesson, help me to finally develop an independent way of thinking, which brings also more quality to me as a singer. Her coaching goes very deep and helps me to accept myself and my voice in an authentic way. Mrs. Schimmack shares both, her experience as a voice teacher and as a stage performer within our voice lessons. Through that, I have gained a lot of professional insights into the operatic world with its dynamics. And this enables me to prepare myself in a more meaningful way to work in the professional music field.

In summary working with Susanne Schimmack has brought me a truly joyful and sustainable progress of personal and professional growth. Her balance between profound knowledge, being open to new experiences and embracing yourself is deeply valuable for me and I highly recommend her as a voice teacher.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.“

Sincerely yours,

Susanne Spahn

• “We started working together not so long ago but I feel that since I have started studying with you a whole universe of new sonorities and things that correspond for my voice and personality has revealed itself, it feel slike discovering the basis of an iceberg!

I really like your enthusiasm and your engagement within your students, and also the fact that we are not only learning to just “do” music but to “be/incarnate” the music, at least is how I do feel it.

Another thing that I really appreciate is that since I have started studying with you I suddenly brought again into life some of the things that I really wanted to do and that I was told that I couldn’t. This is helping me to believe in myself and in my dreams more than ever, for I have been longing to sing opera and to study in a conservatory for almost 9 years now and I have been always told that I was not good enough to make it.

I think that it is crucial for a good teacher to believe in her students, and to push them to be the best they can. At first I was a little bit surprised by some of your commentaries or opinions when I showed arias or projects that I wanted to do and I felt frustrated, but since last weeks I started to understand that you reacted like this so as to take the best out of me, so I am working on it with enthusiasm, and I feel grateful. I just would like to have a clearer idea of the repertory I should work in this moment because I feel a little bit lost with that, but I know we are still working on the “getting to know” my voice.

To conclude, I want to also really, really thank you for looking beyond of my “out-of tune” notes in our first contact and for giving me the chance to be here today, for without your willing it wouldn’t be possible. Full of gratefulness I am doing all my best to succeed -learning as much as possible- and to make my dream of being an opera singer come true 🙂 Thanks !!!!“

Maja Steinberg, BA4

• „Susanne Schimmack is such an inspiring teacher. She is full of understanding, patience and of course so much knowledge. My first lesson with Susanne was interesting, she gave me the feeling that I’m worth it, and is always taking the time to let you feel confident. I can be myself when I’m in the lesson with Susanne, because she is creating  a really safe environment. She wants you to be the best version of yourself. She can explain everything about anatomy in a way that I can understand it, and that’s really helpful in singing lessons. Not to forget also, that there is time to laugh, which makes the singing lesson even better. I’m really grateful for the fact that Susanne Schimmack is making time to give me singing lessons.“   

    Poppeia Beerden, BA4

• „Susanne Schimmack is a professional, talented and unconventional Opera coach who has been able to unlock the potential of my large bass voice and even more importantly, to believe in myself as an opera singer. Susannes’ focus on breathing  meant I was able to control the lowest range of my bass voice. My upper range improved by learning how to open the throat correctly, position the jaw and bring the voice to the pharynx and away from the nose (a technique used often by teachers). For Susanne, correct pronunciation follows the right sound production. Her classes are always creative and animated and Susanne uses many different methods to train her students through explanation, vocal imitation and gesture. As a coach she is serious but warm, strict but always filled with humor. As passionate as she is on the professional opera stage, so she is about bringing out the talent and confidence of her students. Susanne is not only a high level vocal coach for improving technique but also a mentor for building a future in opera.“                     

Mohsen Massoumi, MA1

• „A core idea in Susanne Schimmack’s teaching, is taking the whole body into account, the whole singer’s instrument. Furthermore to create awareness about the instrument also through the process of deep and uninterrupted breathing, in order to create a continuity in the musical phrases, the vowels and the consonances.

I learned about not “squeezing” the throat, the ability to relax the jaw and talk with a rested speaking voice, without giving it any tension.

Preparation is also an important concept for Susanne Schimmack, as it allows the openness that is required in the throat before creating sound. Breathing-in long enough before the singer starts is essential, and keep the openness alive throughout the piece. These are things I learned and helped me relax the whole respiratory system while performing.

In summary, very energetic powerful lessons mixed with intense required calmness in order to keep the system “down” and protecting it from going “up” and squeezing.

A full recommendation, a true “voice therapist”. „.                       

Florence Minon, Alumna

• „Since I’ve started working with Susanne Schimmack, I’ve developed a better and stronger instinct as to what healthy singing feels and sounds like. With a lot of emphasis on the importance and involvement of the speaking voice and the body, I’ve seen how she has helped many singers at different stages of their vocal development to find their own identity and sound.

She believes that there is no separation between the singer and the singing itself. In that respect, she challenges you to find yourself in every character and piece you do, which leads to a lot of self-reflection and continual growth of your own person in parallel to your vocal development.

This can be confronting at times, but this has taught me, personally, to try and let go of encumbrances that could hinder to get in touch with myself and my emotions, to not feel embarrassed and to just dare to make choices. When working with her you are just as much interacting with a teacher as with the person herself. She is deeply involved in any of her students’ development and is always willing to get out of her comfort zone and go the extra mile. This leads to mutual respect and trust which provides a safe space for experiments and the freedom to explore what the possibilities with the voice are.

On top of all those qualities, her knowledge of vocal anatomy and the mechanism of the vocal apparatus is a huge advantage compared to any teacher I’ve had so far and has helped me gain a better understanding of my own instrument.

One of her most valuable traits is her ability to constantly question, learn, and adapt to the person in front of her without losing a strong stand in the belief of her own method. This makes her a very humble yet decisive and passionate person to work with.“

Nancy Breyer, Alumna

• „Susanne Schimmack has been my mentor and voice teacher for almost four and a half years. I started taking lessons with her when i was in the first year of the bachelor of classical music; solo singing and opera.

I was one of her first students at the conservatory in Maastricht.  

Throughout the four years in the bachelor, especially the first two/three years were focused on ‘building my instrument’; for example working on the breath and support, body awareness and consciously exploring the capabilities of the voice. She was quite adament on these aspects and explained their importance by giving examples of her own experiences and those of other singers. In those first two years, Susanne never told me that i was a specific type of singer. She did not put me in any category. We both took the time to get to know what we were working with. Later, as the voice began to settle and the singing was getting ‘easier’, we concentrated more on the future; possible repertoire for auditions and roles to sing. In a way, this approach made me accept that my identity was also still in development. I was in a process, and she taught me that it was not necessary to put myself in a type of ‘box’. In this way, she taught me acceptance. 

One of the main things i learned from Susanne was, that singing or learning how to sing is not like a sprint. Far from it; it is a marathon and a way living; a long process of learning, experimenting and practicing. She made me aware of this, but also left the choice to accept this to me. I learned to be patient, and to be kind with myself when something was not immediately working. I appreciate this about her teaching. 

The choice to learn and to exceed my boundaries and comfort was left to me, she did not push or force me and i am grateful for that. In the end, we as students hold the reigns over our own process and development, as we should (as adults and professionals to be.)

To me it seems that Susanne is more than a 100% involved with the profession and teaching. (They always go hand in hand, as she passes on valuable information that is up to date with today’s opera world and the working environment.) Outside of the classroom she is always approachable for questions and ideas, or even (and often) personal matters. This makes me and others rely on her a great deal. 

Her enthousiasm and willingness to listen also makes me trust her, because i see the way she deals with other students, colleagues and the school. It is always in favor and for the benefit of us, her students.

Susanne can involve all kinds of matters related to singing in her lessons, if needed and if it will help. For example, when i, as a student have had a difficult week, she can see this in my way of communicating. She then might address the matter, to process the emotions and thoughts first, before going on with the lesson. This has taught me that, to be a professional, i need to use tools such as reflecting to take care of my mental state. 

Next to that, Susanne has made me aware of the body-mind-voice connection. She taught me how a singers body can function and react, and how to physically deal with that; how to take care of myself. For example, she would advise a sport such as swimming or taking long walks, to get the blood going and to train the endurance. Her advice has proven to be good and necessary, as i am experiencing now working as a singer. 

Another example; Susanne has involved experts from other professions; like a speech therapist, to work with us students and to broaden our knowledge of our instrument, sharing ideas. She is keen on the idea of different departments within the conservatory working together. She whishes to improve communication and effective, relevant collaboration, all in favor of the students; building their knowledge and experience. 

A couple of things Susanne often says; ‘please, correct me if i am wrong’, ‘tell me if you disagree’ and ‘i question myself all the time’. These quotes are good examples of what i believe to be important characteristics of a teacher; A mentor who is consistently developing and learning, by using tools and skills such as reflective ability, transparency, a critic eye and the enthusiasm and will to keep going further. This describes part of Susanne Schimmack from my point of view. 

In turn, Susanne’s enthousiastic and transparent development also motivates me, even more, to be an active student and to share my discoveries and experiments with her. The result is often a keen exchange of ideas, metaphors and feelings which leaves me feeling content, challenged, motivated and understood by the end of the lesson. 

One more important quote that, i believe, says enough by itself; ‘the student is the method.’

Susanne communicates in all kinds of ways, depending on the situation. She is always trying to make herself as understandable as possible. Often she uses metaphores, symbolism and gestures, to make something more clear or to help us understand perhaps more vague concepts such as atmosphere, tone, to help us act in a scene or to grasp the subtext for something we are performing. This has actually taught me a way of thinking and dealing with text and performing

Susanne gives us as students examples of possible tools to make our performances better, more profound and refined. Susanne always makes sure that all of her students have enough time with her for coaching and that she is involved in school’s projects and events, doing much more than what is expected of her. Susanne makes sure to educate me in the proper ways of communicating as well; simple things on how to be a professional and how to survive in the working environment, how to communicate with other professional and what standards to handle. She does this mainly by sharing experiences and tricks from working as an opera singer, and of course relying on some common sense. 

I must have forgotten a lot of qualities, but i think i have written down the most important things. Susanne has been my mentor throughout my development towards becoming a professional singer; being able to stand on my own two legs and working, with all the skills and knowledge that she has provided me with. I know that, if needed, i can always ask my teacher for advice again. 

All in all; 

she is a hard worker and passionate colleague, a very empathic and social person, straightforward, transparent and honest, consistent and reliable, precise and sometimes meticulous. I consider her a fellow friend on the long road of discovery. We are equals and i respect her, knowing that i am respected as well. 

This describes professor Susanne Schimmack, from my perspective to the best of my abilities. „

Eva Diederix, MA1