Elisabeth Hetherington is a Canadian soprano based in the Netherlands, known for her bold artistic vision and versatility in repertoire ranging from early music to contemporary and modern works. As the recipient of the Netherlands Music Prize 2024 - the highest distinction for classical musicians in the Netherlands - and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award 2026, Elisabeth has become a highly sought-after soloist and artistic creator throughout Europe. She has been praised for her “fearless and powerful personality, flawless technique and breathtaking presentation” (NRC, 2020), as well as for her “beautiful voice, accompanied by great sensitivity, a very solid technique and refined taste. A singer to watch” (Scherzo, Madrid, 2023). A passionate multidisciplinary artist, Elisabeth draws inspiration from her background in modern dance. Her longstanding collaboration with the Dutch dance company LeineRoebana has resulted in widely acclaimed productions in which her integration of voice and movement adds a powerful emotional dimension. As Trouw (2024) wrote: “Balancing between angular and fluid, she constantly adds new layers of emotion to the music with her entire body… Once trained as a dancer, she formed a dream team with LeineRoebana.” Elisabeth has created powerful roles with major opera companies in the Netherlands, establishing a reputation for her strong stage presence and clear, distinctive voice. Her roles include Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle, Susanna in Divorce of Figaro, Senta in The Flying Dutchman, Theodora in Theodora, and Cordelia in King Lear. Of her portrayal of Judith, De Volkskrant (2024) wrote: “Soprano Elisabeth Hetherington… portrays a particularly captivating Judith with her pure, magical, floating voice - dreamy yet self-assured. … In the moving final scene her voice seems to stop time.” Following her widely acclaimed residency at the November Music Festival 2024 - where she curated and presented seven original programmes - Elisabeth has increasingly taken the lead in shaping her own artistic projects. In close collaboration with leading soloists and ensembles, she develops programmes that connect disciplines, eras and repertoire. In the coming seasons, she will perform with and develop new programmes and projects in collaboration with, among others, the Residentie Orkest, Phion Orchestra, Philzuid, Het Muziek (formerly Asko|Schönberg), B’Rock Orchestra, and Concerto Copenhagen. She will also present programmes with cellist/composer Maya Fridman, the Matangi Quartet, lutenist Asako Ueda, and pianist/composer Paolo Gorini. In season 26/27 Elisabeth will be artist-in-residence in Amare The Hague, curating and performing various programmes, containing song, movement, and spoken word. Alongside her performing career, Elisabeth is active as a mentor and teacher. She collaborates with conservatories across the Netherlands and gives workshops and coaching in singing, movement and Historically Informed Performance Practice. She has also become a leading voice in the specialised field of Original Pronunciation of Elizabethan English and is regularly invited to give lectures and workshops on the subject. Elisabeth received her Bachelor of Voice Performance from the University of Toronto and graduated cum laude from the Master of Historical Performance programme at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where she studied with Xenia Meijer. ________________________________________ Version 10-09-2026 | no alterations without prior consent of management