Guja Sandholt
soprano
Guja Sandholt lives in Reykjavík and Amsterdam and works as a classical singer and the artistic director of the Reykjavik Opera Days. In recent years, she has performed widely across the Netherlands, Iceland and internationally, including appearances at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Philharmonic Halls in Paris, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong; as well as at the Grachtenfestival, Holland Festival, Lieding Lied in Arnhem, Bach Week in Amsterdam, Reykholt Festival, Reykjavik Art Festival and Reykjavik Opera Days.
Recently, she performed the role of Leonore in Reykjavik Opera Days’ production Fidelio – an Attempt at Opera by Beethoven, adapted for the stage by Bjarni Thor Kristinsson; Queen Elizabeth in a preview performance of Richard III by Sigurður Sævarsson; Julia Child in the chocolate cake opera Bon Appétit! by Lee Hoiby; the role of The Singer in Albert Hoex’s stage adaptation of the Matthew Passion by Bach and Popova in The Bear by William Walton.
In the summer of 2019, she produced and performed the Icelandic premiere of the Viking opera King Harald’s Saga by Judith Weir, for which she was subsequently nominated as Classical Singer of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards.
Guja has performed extensively as a soloist in oratorios such as St. Matthew Passion and the Christmas Oratorio by J.S. Bach; Requiem by Verdi, Mozart, and Duruflé; Stabat Mater by Dvořák, Pergolesi, and Arvo Pärt; Handel’s Messiah; Vivaldi’s Gloria; and Beethoven’s Mass in C.
She regularly sings with the Netherlands Radio Choir, where she holds a part-time position. She also performs frequently in art songs recitals as well as with Tríó Ljósa, alongside pianist Heleen Vegter and violinist Diet Tilanus.
Guja pursued her vocal and musical studies at the Reykjavik College of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, and the Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands.
guja performs in
Together & Apart