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Emma Kok (born 12 March 2008)[1][2] is a Dutch singer. She rose to prominence in 2021 after winning the tenth season of The Voice Kids. In 2023, her performance of "Voilà" with André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra went viral, amassing nearly 80 million views on YouTube.[3]

Early life

Emma Kok was born in Maastricht and grew up in Kerkrade.[4] Her parents, Vico and Nathalie Kok, are both musicians who met at a concert hall.[5][6] She has two siblings: a brother named Enzo and a sister named Sophie.[7] Enzo is a violinist[8][9] and Sophie is a classical singer.[10][11]

Kok has gastroparesis and has been dependent on a feeding tube since the age of nine months.[12][13][14] She stated that she had been bullied in school because of her illness and consequential smaller stature.[15]

Career

2021–2022: The Voice Kids

In June 2021, Kok won the tenth season of The Voice Kids under the coaching of rapper Ali B.[11][16] In August of that year, she sang at a benefit concert for the victims of the 2021 European floods in Limburg.[17]

On 11 March 2022, Kok released her first single, "Laat Mij Een Vlinder Zijn".[18][19]

2023–present: Ministars, "Voilà", André Rieu collaborations

In February 2023, Kok won the inaugural season of Ministars [nl] with her rendition of "Voilà" by Barbara Pravi.[20] Dutch violinist and conductor André Rieu, also from Maastricht, was reportedly so impressed with Kok's performance that he invited her to perform "Voilà" at his annual concert series at the Vrijthof in July 2023.[21] This performance soon went viral, amassing 2.6 million views in five days.[22][23]

She went on to release three covers with Rieu in 2023: "Voilà",[24] "White Christmas",[25] and "All I Want for Christmas Is You".[26]

She also participated in Rieu's Christmas concerts at the MECC Maastricht in December 2023.[27]

On Christmas, she was a guest on Die Helene Fischer Show [de], where she sang "Voilà" with Helene Fischer.[28][29]

Kok joined André Rieu on his world tour beginning in January 2024.[30][31]

On 24 April 2024, she was a presenter at the Musical Awards Gala [nl] in Leusden.[32]

The following month, on Liberation Day, she sang at the annual 5 Mei-Concert on the Amstel in Amsterdam. The concert was attended by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.[33][34][35]

In October 2024, Kok was confirmed to be joining André Rieu on his forthcoming tour in 2025.[36]

Other work

In 2023, Kok founded Gastrostars, a foundation to help patients with gastroparesis.[6][37]