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The American soprano, Nicole Heinen, obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal/Opera Performance from the Eastman School of Music (2010-2014); and her Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance from University of Wisconsin-Madison (2014-2016).
Noted for her "golden-voiced" singing (Voix des Arts) and "deft hand at verbal and physical comedy" (The Isthmus), Nicole Heinen has dazzled audiences with her demanding stage presence. Praised by the Journal Sentinel for her “clear, ringing sound and facile technique”, she is establishing herself as an artist to watch.
During the 2017-2018 season Nicole Heinen made both her debut appearances as a summer concert artist in residence with the Florentine Opera and performer at the Ravinia Festival. In addition to her debuts, she was a finalist in the 2017 international Handel Aria Competition in part with the Madison Early Music Festival. Other roles include La Fée in Cendrillon, Mademoiselle Silberklang in W.A. Mozart' Der Schauspieldirektor, Atalanta in George Frideric Handel's Serse, Sister Constance (cover) in Francis Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites, Miss Wordsworth in Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring, #1 in Transformations and Adina in Elixir of Love while touring with Opera for the Young in their 2016-2017 season.
As a Baumgartner Studio Artist, Nicole Heinen made her debut with the Florentine Opera portraying Miss Frayne and Margaret Hughes (cover) in Carlisle Floyd's Prince of Players and Fortuna/Valletto in Claudio Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea. Additionally, she performed as a soloist in Florentine Opera’s 85th anniversary gala where she “brought [Juliette’s Waltz] off with beauty and mischief” (Urban Milwaukee). In addition to her significant debut’s with Florentine in the 2018-2019 season, she won the Wisconsin District as part of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the IAET Award in the Casa Italia Competition.
In the 2021-2022 season, Nicole Heinen made her Chautauqua Opera debut as Henrietta M. in Virgil Thomson's The Mother of Us All. While at Chautauqua, she covered Mukhtar Mai in Thumbprint, Lillian Russell in The Mother of Us All and Un Pastore in Tosca. Additionally, she won the Wisconsin District for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and 4th place in the Mary Jacob Singer of the Year Competition. She also competed as a finalist in the John Alexander Vocal Competition and a semi-finalist in the Premiere Opera Foundation Competition and the Orpheus Vocal Competition.
Nicole Heinen started the 2022-2023 season by making her debut with Opera Louisiane as the soprano soloist in the double bill feature of Leonard Bernstein's Bonne Cuisine and Lee Hoiby's Bon Appétit! In October, she Heinen made her debut TV appearance as Iolanta in AMC's Interview with the Vampire. She also made her debut in November with the New Orleans Opera as the Dew Fairy in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel and in March returned to Florentine Opera for a new role debut as Despina in W.A. Mozart's Così fan tutte. In January, she made her role debut as the famous Queen of the Night in W.A. Mozart's The Magic Flute as a guest artist with Loyola University. Recently, she won the Mary Ellen Clancy Memorial Award in the MIOpera Competition. In part with the MIOpera Competition and Opera Illinois League, she performed a recital in Spring of 2023.
During her 2023-2024, Nicole Heinen was a resident artist with Pensacola Opera where she made her company debut as Despina in W.A. Mozart's Così fan tutte, covered the titular role of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and performed the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus. She also made her Pensacola Choral Society debut as the soprano soloist in G.F. Handel's Messiah. During the summer 2024 season, she returned to Pensacola Opera where she performed a sold out solo concert called "Opera After Dark". The program consisted of musical theatre, cabaret and jazz standards from the American Songbook. She also returned to the Caroga Lake Music Festival as a guest artist in their July 5th concert.
Nicole Heinen's 2024-2025 season includes three role debuts. She will kick of the performance season with her role debut as Charlene in Service Provider at Opera Louisiane. She will also debut the role of Susanna in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with Pensacola Opera and make her role debut of Giannetta and cover Adina in L'elisir d'amore with New Orleans Opera.
In addition to opera, Nicole Heinen equally enjoys performing concert and chamber music. She has performed as a soloist with the Florentine Opera, New Orleans Opera and Caroga Lake Chamber Festival. She currently lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. |
