She subsequently became a student of Gina Sandberg in Christiania before she was admitted as a pupil at Baroness Adelaïde Leuhusen's singing school in Stockholm in 1872.

The emotion she displayed during her performances for which she was criticised in Norway was instead praised at the German opera houses and was considered one of her best talents.

[4] On 1 October 1881, while she was waiting in the wings during a dress rehearsal for Weber's Oberon, where she was set to play Rezia, a particularly strenuous and demanding role, Kolderup had a stroke.

Kolderup began to sing again and had hoped to return to the German opera houses in guest roles the following year but her strength weakened after catching a cold and she died on 28 September 1882 in Christiania at the age of 35.

Opera singer Thorvald Lammers said at the funeral "in her breast lived a realm of tones as beautiful as has never been heard in this land".