Dianne van Giersbergen received her first singing lessons as a birthday present from her parents at the age of just four years old. In the following years, the classes were taught by several professors of music and she sang in several choirs. In 2005, she began her studies in classical music at the ArtEZ School of Music where she was taught classical singing by several teachers. She took lessons in classical singing and received, among other things a tuition in musical theater. On 19 May 2009, she received her degree with honors, after which it was decided to continue their studies and work on more materials. Meanwhile, she expanded her vocal technique and began to combine her classical training with heavy metal music; thesis also addresses this issue. She also worked on the theory of composition, wrote poetry and was president of a group of master students to classical music concerts were organized.
Musical career
Ex Libris (2004–present)
After graduating with a Bachelor's and master's degree at the ArtEZ school, and perfecting the combination of classical techniques and progressive metal sounds, Dianne van Giersbergen along with drummer Joost van de Pas formed Ex Libris. In 2008, their debut album "Amygdala" was released independently. The album was well received and supported shows with other Dutch symphonic metal bands like Epica, Delain, Stream of Passion and ReVamp. They also played more and more shows abroad, in countries like Germany, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom, in which the band started to get more attention. Their second album "Medea", based on a Greek tragedy, was released in January 2014 independently through crowdfunding, with a release party on the same day. They are currently preparing their third studio album called Ann, a metal trilogy divided into three chapters. The first chapter titled Ann Boleyn was released on 1 August 2018. The second chapter Anastasia Romanova was released in 15 March 2019 with the third chapter Ann Frank scheduled for release later in the same year.
Xandria (2013–2017)
On 25 October 2013, Dianne van Giersbergen was presented as the new lead singer of the German symphonic metal band Xandria after the departure of Manuela Kraller. On 28 November 2013, was her first live debut with Xandria in Madrid, Spain. Her debut album with the band was released on 2 May 2014, named Sacrificium. On 31 July 2015, her second work with Xandria called Fire & Ashes was released with a total of 7 tracks. 3 new songs, 2 remakes of well known Xandria classics, and 2 cover songs. On 27 January 2017, her third and current work with Xandria titled Theater of Dimensions was released. On 13 September 2017, she left Xandria due to personal reasons and tensions with the other band members.
Reviews
Giersbergen's vocal and performing delivery can pull in the audience, according to a review in Mindbreed. Reviewer Tim Blevins in 2014 noted that Giersbergen seemed to be a "good fit" for the band Xandria. Reviewer Eric May in 2013 in New Noise magazine described her as a "sultry siren" and wrote that there was "something majestically powerful in her mesmerizing vocal harmonies." Another reviewer described her vocals as "breathtaking" with great personality, charisma and charm.
