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Born in the Netherlands, Countertenor Dave ten Kate started singing at a very early age as a soprano in the “Haags Matrozenkoor”. Gregor Bak and Sipke de Jong provided him with his first vocal training.

After high school he continued his studies at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, where he was trained by Rita Dams and Wout Oosterkamp, after which he was trained by Marjan Kuiper for several years.

Dave also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg where it very quickly became clear that his voice had an exceptional range. Made possible by the VandenEnde Foundation, during his stay there he was trained by Martha Sharp, Johannes Effertz-Wolf, Monika Lentz and Adriaan de Wit.

At the start of his of his career, Dave was selected for a Masterclass taught by countertenor Michael Chance. His participation was broadcast in the tv show “Masterclass”, presented by Sonja Barend.
In addition to his teachers at the Mozarteum, Michael Chance also spoke of Dave as an exceptionally talented vocalist and predicted an international career.

“Among the most important musical discoveries in our country, vocalist Dave ten Kate ranks among the greatest. His contribution as an Altus in the Matthaeus Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach proves beyond any doubt that we are dealing with a vocalist that is able to effortlessly reach exceptional, technical levels and combine them with a deeply emotional, musical engagement. Doing so brings the character of his voice to an almost glowing silver luminance. The voice is generous in its range, so that no matter the register, he maintains a pleasant and smooth flexibility. It is clear that after René Jacobs, Michael Chance and Andreas Scholl, a new star has appeared at the ‘stimmliche’ firmament. A musician who’s name we will get to know very well in the years to come!”
- Musicologist & journalist Maarten Brandt

Much requested as a soloist for oratorio concerts, as well as concerts in the baroque repertoire. Dave collaborates with many conductors, among which are Ed Spanjaard, Jan Stulen and Matthew Rowe. His repertoire contains works like the St Matthew Passion and the Weihnachtsoratorio by Bach, Theodora, Judas Maccabaeus and Saul by Händel, to name but a few. Opera’s by Händel, Gluck, Mozart, Purcell and Monteverdi are also included in Dave’s vocal experience. Additionally, he is a much-desired vocalist for modern composers and performs works such as Chichester Psalms by Bernstein and songs by Sondheim, among many others.

His versatility is evident in his work for musical theater, that beautifully showcase Dave’s love and talent for both singing and acting. Performing this combined artform, Dave is known to the world of theater and frequently requested to perform live at productions, among which are the National Ballet, and to supply vocalist duties for movie soundtracks.

Together with a diverse range of pianists and other instrumentalists, he performs recitals, where he showcases a colorful and wide range of musical movements. His concerts are described as a “feast to the ear and the heart”!

The castrati repertoire is of particular interest for Dave, as it is of a level that requires a mastery of technical and musical skill. Qualities that his voice and talent have proven to possess in abundance.
His love of the opera is widely recognized, where the color and heights of his voice make Dave a much-desired vocalist requested to collaborate in productions all over the world.