NovArtFea Mission Statement

NovArtFea aims to support musical and cultural projects, with a focus on the performing arts, and to encourage artistic practice in the broadest sense of the word.
The foundation’s mission is to stimulate projects that emerge from the creative power of women and to provide a platform for imagination and creativity in all its forms.
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Passio

Passio is a contemporary oratorio about the stories of sacrifice and reimagining of women today. In this passion, universal female figures from different cultures are given a voice through a less Eurocentric lens as they strive to rewrite their history.

American soprano, breath artist, and theatre maker Maribeth Diggle created her own performance SOLA SOLETTA at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen examining gender hierarchy in the opera world, and she is currently completing her PhD at the RITCS in Brussels. French fortepianist, jazz musician and composer Lucie de Saint Vincent will compose the new passion, inspired by the artists’ blues, jazz, Moroccan, Indian and early music disciplines.

Passio is a coproduction between Compagnie Trytone, Stichting NovArtFea, Muziektheater Transparant and IN Series. Performances will take place in Korzo Den Haag, O Festival Rotterdam, IN Series Washington D.C. and the Maison Française de Washington D.C. Subsidy support was granted from Villa Albertine, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and the Fonds Podiumkunsten. Passio received residency support from GMEM Marseille and Splendor Amsterdam.

 

Artists

 

Maribeth Diggle: Soprano/Director
Lucie de Saint Vincent: Piano, Fortepiano/Compositions
Joyce Scott: Blues Singer
Laila Amezian: Jazz/Moroccan Vocals
Tina Chancey: Viola da Gamba
Alejandra Borzyk: Saxophone
Rajna Swaminathan: South Asian Percussion, Mrudangam

 

News

 

Passio won the 2024 Jazz & New Music creation grant from the ALBERTINE Foundation, which supports artistic collaborations between France and the United States.

Passio has been a 2024 artist-in-residence at the GMEM (Centre National de Création Musicale de Marseille, France). www.gmem.org/passio

Performances

United States:

March 13/15, 2026 – In Series – Washington DC — US Premiere

March 20/21, 2026 – Maison Française de Washington

April 11/12, 2026 – Baltimore Theater Project

April 20, 2026 – Yale University

Europe:

March 30, 2026 – Splendor – Amsterdam – Try out

April 02/03, 2026 – Theater Korzo – The Hague – Premiere

May 28/29, 2026 – O Festival – Rotterdam

October 2026 – Brugge Festival (BE)

Support

 

Foundation Board

Lucie de Saint Vincent – Artistic Director

Lucie de Saint Vincent is a versatile pianist, composer, and arranger who explores various musical worlds, weaving together genres and influences. She graduated in classical, early, and jazz music from the conservatories of Utrecht and The Hague, as well as the École Normale de Musique de Paris. She alternates between piano and fortepiano, depending on the project. As the founder and artistic director of the Trytone Collective, Lucie delves into musical synthesis and strives to break down the boundaries between styles and traditions. Her latest solo fortepiano album, “Des dentelles à l’échafaud,” dedicated to composers Hélène de Montgeroult and Marie Bigot (2024, Présence Compositrices), received the Diapason d’Or.

As an artist committed to the cause and position of women in the music world, Lucie seeks to push musical boundaries and highlight female composers through her compositions, projects, and performances. As a bold and original musician, she is a key figure in today’s music scene.

Dr. Annelies Andries – Chair

Hello, I am Annelies Andries and I am happy to introduce myself as chair. I grew up in Antwerp, but since 2009, I have traveled some of the world for my musicology studies: Berlin, New Haven (USA), Paris and Oxford. Eventually, I landed in the Netherlands where I have been a lecturer in musicology at Utrecht University since 2020. I teach on a variety of subjects with a special fondness for intersections between music and theater. My research examines how nineteenth-century military conflicts affected the making, performance, and experience of music. Women also have an important place in this. For example, I researched the compositions of the first queen of the Netherlands, Hortense de Beauharnais. 

In addition to my academic work, I enjoy hiking, biking and swimming, yoga, singing in all sorts of constellations, baking (too much) and being a cheerful aunt of 5 wonderful nieces who I entertain with all sorts of creative projects.



Shurok Al Schoof – Treasurer

It’s a pleasure to introduce myself as the treasurer of a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting performing arts by women. My name is Shurok, and I’m a 39-year-old mother of two, originally from Syria. Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, exploring the outdoors, and getting lost in a good book. Motherhood has taught me the value of creativity and self-expression, and I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue their passions. Professionally, I am an accountant and entrepreneur, and co-founder of SAWA Advies, where I support individuals and businesses in navigating the Dutch market.

As treasurer, I am excited to contribute my skills and experience to further the foundation’s mission. I am inspired by the talented women who are breaking boundaries and creating new possibilities in the arts. It’s an honor to be part of this community, and I look forward to supporting efforts to amplify women’s voices in the performing arts.

 

Leonie Slegers – Secretary

As the secretary of the board, I would like to introduce myself. I am 52 years old, have been married to Chris for 22 years, and am a devoted mother of three. I used to work as an anesthesiologist-intensivist, but due to personal medical issues, I am retraining in integrative palliative care.

I love spending time outdoors, preferably with family or friends. My hobbies include surfing, snowboarding, walking, and skating. We enjoy cooking and eating delicious meals, and I also love playing the piano as well as attending concerts and festivals. I am amazed at how much focus remains on male aspects, not only in music but also in medicine, politics, and other fields. That is why I wholeheartedly support this foundation.

Contact

stichtingnovartfea@gmail.com

Booking

Athina Cultuur Comm

Christine Schaaf +33 (0)6 42 80 76 41
diffusion@athina-culturecomm.com