Biography of Heidi Southworth Van der Veer

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Mezzo-soprano Heidi Southworth Van der Veer was born in Carmel, California and grew up in Santa Barbara. She received her B.A. in Performing Arts-Voice from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

While earning her degree, Ms. Van der Veer appeared with the Hawaii Opera Theatre Studio where her credits include Le Libellue in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortileges. She balanced her active performing schedule and her job as a busy wedding singer with her solo work throughout the Hawaiian Islands as a member of the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble, under the direction of Sir Timothy Carney, and as a member of the Kanilehua Chorale. In demand as a soloist for church services, she held jobs with the St. Andrew’s Cathedral Choir, and Church of The Crossroads in Honolulu, and at Holy Cross in Hilo.

Her performing background includes the role of Cherubino in an avant-guard production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at the Teatro Signorelli in Cortona, Italy. She appeared in recital and chamber music concerts with the Studio Lirico in central and northern Italy. Heidi has portrayed the Sorceress in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and her oratorio credits include the mezzo-soprano solos in Schubert’s Mass in G and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Ms. Van der Veer’s profound interest in the vocal music of J.S. Bach has led to further study of the Baroque period. In this spirit, she will attend Oberlin Conservatory’s Baroque Performance Institute this summer, her second year.

Upcoming engagements comprise recital performances at The Hazelrig Music House and at Adams State College. In addition to completing graduate school applications later this year, a Baroque recital tour is planned for fall 2006.