Steven Henrikson

Henrikson, Steven

Steven (Tracy) Henrikson. Bass-baritone, teacher, adjudicator, b Stettler, Alta, 12 Jul 1942, B MUS (British Columbia) 1967, diploma in concert singing (Hochschule für Musik, Munich) 1974, M MUS (British Columbia) 1975. A student of Marie Schilder in Vancouver, Henrikson later studied with Ernst Haefliger, Otakar Kraus, and Louis Quilico. He participated in the Vancouver Opera training program 1967-8 and attended the University of Toronto Opera Department 1968-9. He studied opera production with Walter Ducloux at the University of Southern California in 1967, Herman Geiger-Torel at the Canadian Opera Company (COC) 1968-70, and French Tickner at the University of British Columbia 1964-75 where his master's thesis involved a production of Haydn's The Apothecary.

As Performer

Henrikson's repertoire includes more than 30 operatic roles and bass-baritone solo parts in more than 40 major choral works. He sang in the premieres of many Canadian works such as István Anhalt's Cento in 1967; Robert Turner's The Brideship in 1967 (as Jim Wilson); Jack Behrens' The Lay of Thrym in 1968; Paul McIntyre's Little Red Hen in 1976; Five Sonnets of Archibald Lampman in 1979; Charles Wilson's Dream Telescope in 1979; and Jens Hanson's Three Love Songs in 1981. He was André Nault in the 1969 CBC-TV broadcast of Harry Somers's Louis Riel, and sang in the Windsor Symphony Orchestra's 1986 concert performance of Calixa Lavallée 's The Widow. He also participated in significant premieres of non-Canadian works such as Antal Dorati's In the beginning (1981), the Bayreuth premiere of Wagner's Das Liebesverbot (1972) as Friedrich, and the Canadian premiere of Leoncavallo's La Bohème (1981) at the Guelph Spring Festival as Schaunard. When he sang in the premiere production of Scott Smith and David Warrack's Casey! in 1987, Henrikson entered the field of music theatre. In 1991 he was part of the Toronto company of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.

As Teacher and Adjudicator

Henrikson taught at Malaspina College 1971-6, the University of British Columbia 1975-6, and in 1976 joined the faculty of the University of Windsor, where in 2003 he continued as associate professor, principal voice instructor, and chair of voice studies in the opera/music theatre program. He is also an active festival adjudicator and clinician. Henrikson can be heard on the Ontario Choral Federation's recording CIC/78: Choirs in Contact (1978, 2-Audat WRC6-446).