Willy Postma

Willy Postma
Willy Postma

Willy Postma, harpist
Norway

Willy Postma was born in Amsterdam in 1942. At the age of 16 she was accepted into the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music, on main instrument piano. The following year, aged 17, she gave her debut concert playing Beethoven’s’ second piano concerto. At age 18 she commenced with harp studies with renowned teacher Margot Flipse Broeders, a student of the famous Rosa Spier. A year after she initiated her harp studies, she replaced her teacher, due to illness, as principal harpist of the Rotterdam Philharmonic. In 1970, Mrs. Postma was a prizewinner in the Israeli Harp Contest. Succeeding she went on to study with Susan McDonald and Pierre Jamet.

Between the years 1964 and 2010, she was principal harpist of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. She was initially employed there as both principal pianist and harpist. Mrs. Postma is today a Norwegian citizen. In 1971-72 she was principal harpist for the Gothenburg Symphony orchestra. Alongside her position in Trondheim and being a single mother of three children, she has had an extensive career as a freelance musician, playing solo recitals all over the world, and playing for many of the world’s leading orchestras as principal. She has released two recordings of solo works for the harp, participated in countless recordings with orchestral works, and performed in several tv and radio broadcasts.

She remains a dedicated teacher and has during the past 35 years held teaching positions at The Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo, The Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, The Norwegian Youth Orchestra and the Trondheim Music School. Her students today hold the principal positions of many of the Norwegian Orchestras. Mrs. Postma has been on the Board of directors of WHC for nine years, she has held masterclasses in Europe, The U.S, Canada and Asia. She has frequently served as judge in harp competitions, and most recently at the USA composer competition.

Willy Postma had commissioned works from 13 composers and gave first performances on all Harp Congresses.

Her last solo recital was June 2021.