Soprano

Soprano, Katherine Smith is revolutionizing what it means to be a modern, twenty-first century vocal musician. With an industry in demand of broadening its horizons, the passionate performer has taken her love for the stage and honed her skills as a dedicated voice teacher and researcher in the vocal field. Praised for her “rich, yet delicately honest timbre,” the soprano has been stepping into the performance lights and making a name for herself along side growing a large vocal studio.

 

Favored for her velvety and dazzling tone of Strauss, Mozart, and Verdi, Ms. Smith has graced stages over the world performing music of these composers and others in Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio San), La bohème (Musetta), Die Zauberflöte (Erste Dame), Le nozze di Figaro (Suzanna), Idomeneo (Elettra), and Faust (Marguerite). Along with her operatic premiers, Ms. Smith performs symphony and recital concert music to hailing reviews. She has been delighted to be the soloist with Lake Charles Symphony, American Institute of Musical Studies, Opera on the Avalon, along with regionial orchestras in Texas, Austria, and Germany. Highlights have included Singing Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, Schubert’s Mass in G, Handel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Requiem, and a personal favorite, Orff’s Carmina Burana that she was pleased to first perform while in her master’s degree at Rice University conducted by Thomas Jaber.

 

In 2016 Ms. Smith debut with Houston Grand Opera in the World Premiere of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s newest opera, It’s a Wonderful Life! performing the role of Helen Bailey. She is a recorded artist with Pentatone on the World Premiere recording.

 

Earlier in 2016 Katherine competed in the 35th International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in Cape Town, South Africa after having won the qualification in Houston, TX earlier that year.

 

Ms. Smith’s training has brought her around the world and learning from some of the finest coaches, teachers, and conductors. Barbara Clark, Martin Katz, Patrick Summers, Thomas Jaber, Gary Matthewman, and Richard Bado have been some of the singer’s greatest mentors. She holds degrees from both Rice University and Brigham Young University- Idaho.

 

Currently living in Houston, Texas, the soprano has grown and been mentored in the science and medicine of music by an amazing team of doctors, speech pathologists, directors and practitioners at Houston Methodist Hospital. She currently sings with a variety of ensembles across the globe while being a member of Houston Grand Opera Chorus. Her curiosity keeps her actively pursuing to change the perception of classic voice as more than just a performing art, but also a medicinal science that aids all vocal professionals vocal and mental health.