Erika Waardenburg
Erika Waardenburg is nationally and internationally one of the most versatile and prominent harpists. She performs as a soloist with orchestras conducted by conductors such as David Porcelijn, Graham Jenkins and Ernest Bour. She also performs with chamber ensembles and gives recitals.
Erika studied at the conservatories of Utrecht and Brussels with Edward Witsenburg and Susanna Mildonian. She graduated with the highest praise, the Premier Prix and the Prix d’Exellence. She won the prestigious international Gaudeamus Competition for contemporary music and the Friends’ Wreath of the Concertgebouw.
Besides the well-known romantic harp repertoire, she also brings lesser-known and contemporary repertoire to the public’s attention. She also invites composers to write works for harp.
Erika is a much sought-after teacher; she is principal study teacher at the conservatories of Amsterdam, Utrecht and Helsinki and gives master classes at home and abroad, including at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Royal Academy of Music in London. She also teaches at the Sweelinck Academy for Young Top Talent, where many harpists can work on developing their talent from a young age. Many of her students win prizes at home and abroad.