Aafje Heynis

Aafje Heynis, born May 2, 1924, in Krommenie, in the Netherlands, was a contralto singer. She began her musical journey singing in a children's choir accompanied by her father on the harmonium. In 1945, after the liberation from German occupation, Heynis gained local recognition when she performed Handel’s "Dank sei Dir" for the people of Zaan. Her breakthrough came through her interpretation of Brahms' Rhapsody for Alto with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Eduard van Beinum's direction. From 1946 to 1949, she studied under Aaltje Noordewier-Reddingius and further refined her skills with Laurens Bogtman and Roy Henderson. Heynis recorded extensively with Philips Records, with a repertoire including works by Bach, Handel, Brahms, and Mendelssohn. She passed away on December 16, 2015, in Huizen, Netherlands.