Soprano Mia Heikkinen graduated with distinction as master of music from the Sibelius Academy, majoring in opera. She also has a degree in music pedagogy from the Turku University of Applied Sciences. In 2021, she started her PhD studies within the Sibelius Academy DocMus programme, with improvisation in classical singing as her research subject.

Mia Heikkinen won the Kangasniemi singing competition in 2007 and came second in the Lappeenranta competition, women’s series in 2008. The same year, she was awarded the role as Blonde in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail in the international singing competition at Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg. In 2011, she finished fourth in the international Jean Sibelius singing competition in Järvenpää. During the covid pandemic, Heikkinen received several grants, both personal and for working groups, resulting in online performances and extensive outdoor concert tours to various service homes.

As opera soloist, Heikkinen has visited the Finnish National Opera, the Tampere, Kouvola, Ilmajoki and Vaasa opera societies, Svenska Teatern, The Turku and Seinäjoki City Theatres, and Ooppera Skaala, as well as Opera Veto in Estonia. She has given concerts in England, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, Thailand, Switzerland and Germany, in addition to Finland.

Heikkinen is conducting groundbreaking work within opera improvisation together with her Improa! ensemble. She also regularly appears as soloist with choirs and orchestras, performs works by contemporary composers, and arranges Lied concerts. She is also a sought-after teacher, working both independently and within the Espoo Avonia Music Institute. Her doctoral studies have brought an increasing demand for coaching musicians in stage performance and improvisation, as well as for giving lectures at international conferences.