Biography

Jouke Wijmenga is a Dutch baritone with a versatile solo repertoire spanning oratorio, opera, and contemporary music. He is a sought-after soloist in works by composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, including the St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, the Mass in B minor, and numerous cantatas. His solo performances also include Mozart masses, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and a range of contemporary compositions. In December 2024, he performed the baritone solo in a new work by David Lang at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

On the opera stage, Jouke has sung roles from both the Baroque and Classical repertoire, including Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Leporello (Don Giovanni), and Achilla (Giulio Cesare). He portrayed the title role in a scene from Alban Berg’s Wozzeck, broadcast live on Dutch national radio (NPO Radio 4). In the summer of 2025, he appeared as Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, in a staging by Marc Pantus.

Jouke studied voice at the Rotterdam Conservatoire with Henk Neven and graduated in 2020. He has received further training in masterclasses and coachings with, among others, Marcel Reijans, Johannette Zomer, and Carolyn Watkinson, and continues to develop under the guidance of Margreet Honig.

In addition to his solo career, Jouke has a strong affinity for ensemble singing. Since 2025, he has been a permanent member of the Netherlands Chamber Choir (Nederlands Kamerkoor), performing extensively in the Netherlands and abroad. He has also collaborated with other leading vocal ensembles such as Cappella Amsterdam, Laurens Collegium Rotterdam, and Collegium Vocale Gent.