Featured as The Times Rising Star of Classical Music 2012, over the last year Kathryn has made her debut to critical acclaim with English National Opera as Cherubino (The Marriage of Figaro) in a production directed by Fiona Shaw, and at Opera North as Sesto (Giulio Cesare).  Her concert work has included recitals at Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, the Brighton, City of London Festivals, and Cheltenham Festival (Broadcast by BBC Radio 3), and a performance of Carmen as part of Charles Hazlewood’s 2012 Orchestra In a Field music festival at Glastonbury Abbey.

Born in Liverpool in 1986, Kathryn completed her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Susan Roper on the International Artist Diploma scheme in 2011.  On graduating she immediately joined the ENO Young Artist programme.  This season Kathryn revisits the role of Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Glyndebourne Touring Opera and in 2013 returns to Opera North in the roles of Annio (La Clemenza di Tito) and Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).  She was selected for representation by Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) in 2010. During 2012 Kathryn also appeared as a special guest of the American tenor Noah Stewart in a UK tour.

On the concert platform Kathryn has appeared as soloist on several occasions with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra working with conductors Vasily Petrenko, Carl Davis and John Wilson.  She has sung Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Paul Daniel at the Royal Festival Hall, Mahler’s Das Knaben Wunderhorn at Bridgewater Hall, Karl Jenkins The Armed Man with Manchester Camerata and Berio and Hesketh Songs with the RLPO Ensemble 10/10.

During her studies Kathryn’s operatic roles included a critically acclaimed Carmen, Erika in Barber’s Vanessa, Annio (La Clemenza di Tito), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Sorceress (Dido & Aeneas) and Olga (Eugene Onegin), the latter for Haddo House and the RNCM.  She also covered the role of Helénè (La Belle Helénè) and sung excerpts from Handel’s Ariodante.

While at the RNCM Kathryn won numerous prizes and awards including a Silver Medal, the Allcard Award and the audience prize for The Prince’s Prize from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, an MBF Sybil Tutton Award, the Annie Ridyard, Amanda Roocroft and Bridgitte Fassbaender awards; and the Alexander Young, Frederic Cox and Joyce and Michael Kennedy Strauss prizes.  Nationally she has won a Susan Chilcott Scholarship, a BBC Fame Academy Bursary, Yamaha MFE Scholarship, Kathleen Ferrier Bursary, Clonter Opera Prize and the Bruce Millar/Gullivar Prize. Kathryn is a Samling Scholar and an RPS/YCAT Philip Langridge mentoring scheme artist.

Photo Credit: Sussie Ahlburg