Dianne van Giersbergen received her first singing lessons as a birthday present from her parents at the age of four. In the following years, she was taught by several professors and sang in several choirs. In 2005, she began studying classical music at the ArtEZ School of Music where she focused on classical singing and musical theater. In 2009, she received her degree with honors.
Meanwhile, she expanded her vocal technique and began to combine her classical training with heavy metal music. She also worked on the theory of composition, wrote poetry and organized classical music concerts.
After graduating with a Bachelor and master's degree from the ArtEZ school and perfecting the combination of classical techniques with progressive metal music, Dianne van Giersbergen formed Ex Libris along with drummer Joost van de Pas.
Their debut album "Amygdala" was released in 2009. The album was well received by critics and fans, and the band started to act as support for shows of other Dutch symphonic metal bands such as Epica, Delain, Stream of PassionorReVamp. They also played shows abroad in countries such as Germany, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom, where the band started to receive attention.
Their second album "Medea", based on a Greek tragedy, was released in January 2014, financed independently through crowdfunding.
Their third studio album Ann – A Progressive Metal Trilogy appeared in 2019, featuring three "Chapters" (each consisting of three songs) about three female historical characters who met an untimely death (Anne Boleyn, Anastasia Romanova and Anne Frank).
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 seven tracks: three new songs, two remakes of well known Xandria classics, and two cover songs.
On 27 January 2017, her third and last work with Xandria titled Theater of Dimensions was released.
On 13 September 2017, she left Xandria for personal reasons and tensions with the other band members.[6]
Dianne van Giersbergen announced on 19 October 2022, that she would begin working on her debut solo album alongside Joost van den Broek.[7] The album, which will be called Soulward Bound, also contains the single "After the Storm", which was released on 14 February 2023.[8] During a live chat on the release day of the single, van Giersbergen, revealed that it might take five years for the album to come out.[9] On 25 August 2023, van Giersbergen announced that "Unleash the Siren", the second single of the album, was released on 22 September 2023.[10] The third single, "A Symphonic Tragedy", was released on 14 March 2024.[11]
Giersbergen's vocal and performing delivery can pull in the audience, according to a review in Mindbreed.[12] Reviewer Tim Blevins in 2014 noted that Giersbergen seemed to be a "good fit" for the band Xandria.[13] 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."[5] Another reviewer described her vocals as "breathtaking" with great personality, charisma and charm.[14]
^2014-07-01, Festival Info, music review, REVIEW : HAL2A – DICK `S LAST DAYS, Retrieved 4 July 2014, "...Dutch soprano Dianne van Giersbergen ... known by the German symphonic metal band Xandria. Her singing is fine...."
^ ab19 May 2014, Eric May, New Noise Magazine, Album Review: Xandria – "Sacrificum", Accessed 4 July 2014, "...Newcomer and sultry siren, Dianne Van Giersbergen (not related to Anneke) ... something majestically powerful in her mesmerizing vocal harmonies. ..."
^Fabian Bernhard, 30 June 2014, Mindbreed, Xandria live in Berlin – In the sign of the Phoenix, Accessed 4 July 2014, "... highlight, however, was definitely Dianne, who managed to pull the audience right from the start in its spell...."
^Tim Blevins, 25 April 2014, Music Review, Xandria Releases Video For, "Nightfall", Accessed 4 July 2014, "...'Sacrificium' ... new vocalist Dianne van Giersbergen (Ex Libris), ... good fit for the band ..."
^Vasihali Jain, 29 May 2014, Metal Wani, INTERVIEW: XANDRIA's DIANNE VAN GIERSBERGEN On Success – "It Takes Blood, Sweat, Tears And Above All, Devotion"], Accessed 4 July 2014, "...Xandria fans warmly welcomed ... Dianne van Giersbergen ... personality, charisma and charm only adorns her breathtaking singing and vocal styles. ...Dianne ... vocal coach...."
