Nicholas Söderlund began his vocal studies at the Turku Conservatory and the Sibelius Academy Youth Training Program under Hannu Kerkola and Sauli Tiilikainen. He continued his studies at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg under Prof. Heiner Hopfner. After returning to Finland, Söderlund studied at the Sibelius Academy’s Department of Church Music under Peter Lindroos and Erkki Rajamäki, under whose guidance he completed his diploma in singing in the spring of 2008 with excellent grades.
Söderlund won second prize at the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in 2006 and also won second prize at the International Sibelius Singing Competition in the fall of 2007. Other awards include the Bayreuth Scholarship from the Finnish Wagner Society, the Martti Talvela Foundation Recognition Award in 2007, and the Karita Mattila Scholarship in 2009.
Nicholas Söderlund has performed as an oratorio and passion soloist and in his own Lied and church concerts in the Nordic countries as well as in Russia, Estonia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. His professional opera debut came at the Finnish National Opera in 2007 in Fredrik Pacius’ opera Kung Karls jakt, and since his debut he has been one of the most frequently employed singers of his voice type at the Finnish National Opera. His other Finnish opera productions include the lead role in Jorma Panula’s opera Joutilas mies at the Nivala Ice Hall in 2008, a role in New Generation Opera’s debut production at the Helsinki Festival in 2013, and the role of Koskela in Tauno Pylkkänen’s opera Tuntematon sotilas at the Oulu City Theater in 2014. During the 2008–2009 season, Söderlund was engaged by the Basel Opera in Switzerland.
Nicholas Söderlund has made several recordings for Finnish Broadcasting Company Yleisradio and also appears as a soloist on a number of albums. He is also particularly active in performing new Finnish music and has premiered works by Olli Kortekangas, Jouni Kaipainen, Pasi Lyytikäinen, Jukka Linkola, Juhani Haapasalo, and Harri Kerkko, among others. Söderlund is a versatile singer who is at home in many musical styles as well as interdisciplinary projects.
