Selma Harkink

Soprano Selma Harkink completed her studies at the Utrecht conservatory with distinction under Henny Diemer. Besides her studies in Utrecht, she simultaneously studied at the Amsterdam conservatory at De Nieuwe Opera Academie under Alexander Oliver and at the Lieder class under Udo Reinemann.

During her studies, Selma won several prizes. Twice she was a prize winner in the competition of Stichting Jong Muziektalent Nederland. She also received a scholarship from the Provision for Outstanding Young Musicians. To complete her studies, Selma took several master classes with, among others: Sarah Walker, Henk Smit, Jard van Nes, Elly Ameling, Udo Reinemann, Rudolf Jansen, Helmut Deutsch and Roger Vignoles.

Selma Harkink worked on a large number of opera productions. She was a member of the Dortmund Opera ensemble for several years. Here she sang the role of Der Küchenjunge in the world premiere of Das Treffen in Telgteby Eckehard Mayer based on a novel by Günter Grass and directed by Christine Mielitz. As a guest soloist, she performed at Oper Bonn as Miss. Schlesen in Satyagraha By Philip Glass, as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at Musiktheater Gelsenkirchen and at Muziektheater Transparant (Belgium) as Blondchen in the production A Total Entführung directed by Ramsey Nasr. With the Nationale Reisopera, Selma Harkink could be heard as Ancilla in Cherubinis Medea and as Annina in Verdi's La Traviata. In January 2008, she performed the New Year's concerts with Holland Symfonia conducted by Henrik Schaefer.

Recently, Selma Harkink was heard as, among others, Le Feu in Ravels L'enfant et les sortilèges with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ed Spanjaard. In March 2009, she reached the final of the 10^e Deutekom Opera Competition where she won second prize. In November the same year, she was featured in the final of the Dutch Vocalist Presentation (former Erna Spoorenberg vocalist presentation).