TESTIMONIALS.



​

​I asked THE SINGERS for their feedback......
Here is what they say:

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"​I met Susanne Schimmack at the start of my Bachelor’s studies, and from that moment on she has been far more than a teacher—she has been a true guide in my artistic and personal development. She recognized my potential even when I doubted myself and adapted her teaching with exceptional sensitivity to my individual needs. Thanks to her support, I developed solid technique, artistic maturity, and stage confidence. Susanne inspires trust, discipline, and genuine love for the art.
​I could not imagine a better mentor for anyone pursuing a professional singing career."                                                                                                                                                ANDREA PALOMO CARMEN DE ALCANTARA, soprano

"Susanne is a patient teacher who works with great focus and awareness on the key challenges of each student. This is an incredibly valuable trait! I spent years working with several teachers on my lower to middle range without any noticeable improvement. Susanne is the first teacher I have met who could explain precisely what needs to be done. She is also a true artist and understands the profession.
I recommend working with her to everyone."                                     
                                                                                                                                    ALEKSANDRA NYGAARD, mezzosoprano

"Over the past two years of working with Susanne Schimmack, I have made remarkable progress as a singer. When we began, I was unsure whether I was a soprano or a mezzo, but Susanne guided me to prioritise healthy singing and personal growth over labels. With her deep technical knowledge and clear explanations, she helps identify and solve issues while encouraging exploration beyond my comfort zone.
I now sing with confidence and discover new potential in my voice.
Beyond her expertise, Susanne is caring, joyful, honest, and deeply supportive—an exceptional teacher who works with you every step of the way. "                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     MARIANA PRINO, soprano​

"Studying with Susanne Schimmack at the Conservatorium Maastricht has been inspiring and transformative. Her deep knowledge of vocal technique, languages, and pedagogy, combined with her contagious passion for music, makes every lesson meaningful. She stands out for her direct, honest guidance—clearly identifying problems and offering effective solutions.
Her energy, positivity, and commitment create a motivating environment that supports true and individual vocal and artistic growth."                                                                                           
​                                                                                                                                                                                DEVON BAIRD, bass
                                                                                                                                              

"I am Toos van der Wal, alto, working since 2017 at the Stadttheater Bern and as a freelance oratorio singer. Susanne Schimmack was my professor during my Master’s studies at the Conservatorium Maastricht. I had previously trained as a high mezzo-soprano, which was the wrong voice type for me and caused excess tension in my jaw and upper body. Frau Schimmack quickly recognized that Mozart and high mezzo repertoire were not suitable, helped me shift to true alto repertoire, and taught me to feel and use my whole body. This changed my life.
She is a dedicated, inspiring teacher who works rigorously with every student to develop an authentic, healthy sound."                           
​                                                                                                                                                         TOOS VAN DER WAL, contralto​

"I had the pleasure of working with “Frau Schimmack” during my studies at the Conservatorium Maastricht. She became an invaluable part of my training, and I call her “Frau Schimmack” out of deep respect and friendship. Her teaching develops slowly and from the deep register upward, but this solid foundation proves its worth over time. She has an exceptional sense for when a singer is ready to move into higher registers, and I admire how she first calms young sopranos before letting them explore their high “money notes.” Although she was not my main teacher, I observed her closely and took several lessons with her. As a countertenor, I sought her out to explore my baritone voice. She is unafraid of experimentation, yet always clear about her goals. Even when teacher and student don’t immediately speak the same “language,” she adapts without losing her own voice.
Her methodical, sometimes “slow” approach may challenge standard conservatory structures, but it is profoundly valuable in the long run. Working with her requires commitment—not only vocally but also personally: honesty, emotional openness, and determination. I remained critical throughout, and I still don’t accept everything unquestioningly, but I deeply admire her.
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I have seen remarkable results of her teaching in many singers and continue to carry her insights with me."                                                                                                                                                         BAS VAN DAMME, countertenor​

"Susanne Schimmack understands my voice. I have been taking lessons in Maastricht for about four weeks now—three hours a week—as an Erasmus student. I have also listened to almost all of the other students' lessons. We have been working on the alignment of my voice, on legato, on the correct position of the voice. We have retrained the muscles. I am 32 years old and have been singing on stage for about ten years – so I have many old habits that we are trying to change. We found the “cupo” space, the place where the voice is soft and can flow with the air without forcing it.
It is hard work, but I want to thank Susanne for all her help, generosity, and empathy during the lessons! (...) I am truly grateful and I want to say: Thank you, Susanne Schimmack, you are amazing!"                                       
                                                                                                                                                      VITTORIA PITTS,  mezzo-soprano

​​​"Susanne Schimmack is a wonderfully enthusiastic voice teacher whose passion for her work is always evident. She brings her vast stage experience into the studio, which is endlessly inspiring for aspiring artists. Her investment in each individual voice never goes unnoticed, and the support she offers every student goes far beyond that of a typical teacher.
I consider myself fortunate to have such a knowledgeable, encouraging, and caring mentor. "                              
                                                                                                                                                                            AMI HEWITT, soprano 

"Susanne Schimmack is a professional, talented, and unconventional opera coach who succeeded not only in unlocking the potential of my large bass voice but—more importantly—in believing in me as an opera singer. Susanne’s focus on breathing enabled me to gain control over the lowest part of my range. My upper register improved as I learned to open the throat correctly, position the jaw, and direct the sound into the pharynx instead of the nose (a technique often overused by teachers). For Susanne, correct diction follows correct sound production. Her lessons are always creative and lively, and she uses a wide variety of methods—explanations, vocal demonstrations, and gestures—to guide her students. As a coach, she is serious yet warm, strict yet always full of humor.
As passionate as she is on the opera stage, she brings the same passion to nurturing her students’ talent and confidence. Susanne is not only a first-rate voice teacher for technical development, but also a mentor in building a future in opera."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 MOHSEN MASSOUMI, bass 

"A central idea in Susanne Schimmack’s teaching is to consider the whole body—the singer’s entire instrument. She fosters awareness of this instrument through deep, continuous breathing, which creates continuity in musical phrasing, vowels, and consonants. I learned not to tighten my throat, to relax my jaw, and to speak with a calm, unforced voice. Preparation is also essential in her approach: openness in the throat before a tone is produced, taking enough time to inhale, and maintaining that openness throughout the piece. These principles have helped me keep my entire breathing system relaxed during performance. In summary, her lessons are energetic and powerful, yet grounded in the calm needed to keep the system “down” rather than pushing “up”—a wholehearted recommendation.  She is a true “voice therapist.”     
                                                                                                                                               FLORENCE MINON, mezzo-soprano

"Dear Susanne, you asked me to describe you as a teacher. I’m still grateful you chose me as your student. During our time at the conservatory we had ups and downs, but you were always dedicated and wanted the best for us. Your strictness taught us the discipline we need as singers—discipline many other teachers don’t instill. You pushed us to grow and become independent, and it worked for me.I admire your honesty, even when the truth was hard to hear. You shared your own struggles, showing that teachers are human and still learning. You also gave us artistic freedom; you let me choose my own repertoire and supported my choices, which is rare. 
In short: you give freedom, teach discipline, encourage authenticity, and truly care for your students.
You inspire us, you’re unafraid to sing and demonstrate, and you stand up for what you believe in. 
​Keep going—you’re doing great."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  YOUNGKY EURLINGS, baritone

"Since working with Susanne Schimmack, I’ve developed a clearer instinct for what healthy singing feels and sounds like. With her strong focus on the speaking voice and the body, I’ve seen her guide singers at all stages to discover their own identity and sound. She believes the singer and the singing are inseparable, and she challenges you to find yourself in every role and piece. This can be confronting, but it has taught me to release what blocks my emotions, to stop feeling embarrassed, and to make bold choices. With Susanne you work with both the teacher and the person. She is deeply invested in her students, willing to step out of her comfort zone and go the extra mile. This creates mutual trust and a safe space for experimentation and vocal exploration. Her knowledge of vocal anatomy and vocal mechanics is exceptional and has helped me understand my instrument more deeply.
​One of her strongest qualities is her ability to keep questioning, learning, and adapting to each student while staying grounded in her method. She is a humble yet decisive and passionate teacher."
​                                                                                                                                                                     NANCY BREYER, soprano

"Susanne Schimmack was my mentor and voice teacher for six years, starting in my first year of the Bachelor programme in classical voice and opera at the Conservatorium Maastricht. In the early years she focused on building my voice through breath work, support, body awareness, and exploring my vocal possibilities. She never labelled me or pushed me into a voice type; instead, we discovered together what my voice naturally was. As my voice stabilised, we shifted toward repertoire and auditions, which helped me accept that both my identity and my voice were still developing. One of the most valuable lessons she taught me is that singing is not a sprint but a long, continual process. She gave me the space to grow at my own pace, encouraging patience and self-kindness. She never forced anything, and that allowed me to take responsibility for my own development. 
Susanne’s commitment goes far beyond the lesson room. She is always available, supportive, and deeply invested in her students’ well-being. She creates a safe space in which emotional and personal challenges are acknowledged before continuing with the technical work. She also taught me how body, mind, and voice are connected and encouraged healthy habits like swimming and walking. She brought in specialists, such as a speech therapist, to expand our knowledge and promote collaboration across departments.           
Susanne constantly questions herself, invites discussion, and remains open to learning. Her enthusiasm    and transparency make her a motivating mentor. Our lessons often ended with an inspiring exchange of    ideas that left me feeling challenged, supported, and understood. "                             
​                                                                                                                                                                         EVA DIEDERIX, soprano

                                                                                                                                                        

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