Lies Braakman

Lies Braakman studied at the Prince Claus Conservatoire with Paul Komen and Nata Tsvereli. She continued her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Paul Roberts, where she got her masters degree with a specialization in French music.

In her youth Lies won many competitions, such as the Haydn Music Festival, an honorable mention at the Prinses Christina Competition. She received masterclasses from RIan de Waal, Daniël Wayenberg, Teodor Parachivescu, Alisdair Tate, and from opera pianists Peter Lockwood, David Gowland and Klaus Sallmann in a workshop week of The National Opera.

Lies is very active in chamber music and Lied accompanying. With British soprano Claire Lees she performed on recitals in London (amongst which in the prestigeous St. James Piccadilly) and together they were selected as finalists in the International Student Lied Duo Competition, where they were awarded the Vrienden van het Lied Prize. With vocalist Rick Zwart she performed on Radio4 and the National Opera.

Lies was granted several scholarships from the VSBfonds, het Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds (the D.I.X. Fonds, the Clara Haskil Fonds and the Constant van Gestel Fonds). She was also supported by a number of British funds, The Angus Allnatt Charitable Foundation and The Guildhall School Trust.