Welcome

Kathryn is a critically acclaimed professional concert/recording artist and opera singer from Liverpool. Described by What’s on Stage as ‘One of Britain’s brightest young mezzos’ and named as The Times ‘Rising Star of Classical Music.’ Kathryn regularly collaborates with leading singers, instrumentalists, composers, conductors, orchestras, choirs and ensembles for live concert/opera performances, broadcasts and recordings nationally and internationally.

Opera
Kathryn has performed leading opera roles to critical acclaim for major companies including; English National Opera (ENO), Garsington, Glyndebourne and Opera North; Rosina in (The Barber of Seville) for English National Opera on the London Coliseum and Nancy in (Albert Herring) at Buxton Opera House. During 2018 Kathryn toured the UK in Mozart’s Don Giovanni in the role of ‘Zerlina’ with Opera North. Opera role credits also include; Cherubino in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro English National Opera London Coliseum (Professional opera debut 2011), Sesto (Handel’s Giulio Cesare) Opera North Leeds Grand Theatre/UK Tour, Annio (Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito) Opera North Leeds Grand Theatre/UK Tour and Hermia (Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) Opera North Leeds Grand Theatre/UK Tour. Cherubino (Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro) Glyndebourne/UK Tour. Bellini’s Adelson e Salvini (Barbican Centre) and Leoncavallo’s Zaza (Barbican Centre) (Opera Rara), Dorabella in (Cosi Fan Tutte) Garsington Opera. Barber’s Erika (Vanessa), Helena (Offenbach’s La Belle Helene), Olga (Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin) Haddo House. Bizet’s Carmen (title role) at Glastonbury Abbey. (Productions directed by Francis Matthews, Tim Albery, Fiona Shaw, Martin Duncan, John Fulljames, Stefan Janski, Michael Grandage, Sir Jonathan Miller)

“The Biggest news of the evening is the Liverpudlian mezzo Kathryn Rudge. Her cleanly produced tone, sensitive colouring of words..combine with a vividly attractive stage personality to make something special” The Telegraph

“This Charismatic Singer, with her immaculate diction, knows how to stir the heart” Opera Now Magazine 

Education/Awards 
Awards for singing and performance include; Kennedy Award for the Singing of Richard Strauss, RPS Susan Chilcott Scholarship, The Joaninah Trust Award, Worshipful Company of Musicians Audience Princes’ Prize Allcard Award and Silver Medal, ABRSM Macklin, Clonter Opera & audience Prize, Frederic Cox Award for Singing, Bruce Millar/Gulliver Prize, Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Award. Kathryn was nominated in the Young Artist category of the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Awards. Also a Samling Scholar, English National Opera Harewood Young Artist (2011), YCAT Artist, BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist (2015-17). Mentoring and masterclasses including: Philip Langridge Mentoring Scheme: Dame Janet Baker, Dame Ann Murray, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Willard White, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Kathryn trained at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (2002-11), studying voice with Susan Roper and piano with Naomi Kayayan. is an Associate Artist of the Royal Northern College of Music.

Festivals and Venues Kathryn has been invited to perform song recitals at Wigmore Hall, Leighton House, The Sage Gateshead, Cadogan Hall and Bridgewater Hall. Recitals for UK musical festivals have included; Oxford Lieder, Ryedale, Pembroke College Cambridge, Brighton, City of London, Cheltenham, English Music, Lake District, Chester, Windsor Festival, Uppermill, Live at St Wilfrid’s, Richmond Live Festivals, English Music Festival, Leeds Lieder Festival and Opera North Kirklees Concert Season. Kathryn has also performed at the Houses of Parliament for ‘BBC Radio 3 Live from the House.’ National UK Concert Tours include; Noah Stuart ‘Without a Song Tour ‘ and with Sir Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace,’ ‘70th Birthday Tour’ and forthcoming ‘75th Birthday Tour’ in 2019.

Concerts/Orchestral Kathryn regularly performs with orchestras and has performed under the baton of conductors including Sir Mark Elder, Sir Andrew Davis, Renato Balsadona, Joseph Vincent, Paul McCreesh, Daniele Rustioni, Maurizio Benin, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Charles Hazle
wood, Douglas Boyd, Paul Daniel, Clark Rundell, Daniele
Rustioni. There have also been performances with Karl Jenkins and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of The Armed Man and Mozart’s Requiem with the Mozart Festival Orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall and in Beethoven 9th Symphony at The Royal Festival Hall. Chausson “Poème de l’amour et de la mer” with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra Aaron Copland Songs with BBC Philharmonic and conductor Ben Gernon, Eric Coates songs with BBC Concert Orchestra and
chief conductor Bramwell Tovey.

Recent concert highlights performed at Westminster Chapel with the Band of the Household Cavalry (Classic FM) WW2 remembrance concert attended by HRH The Earl of Wessex. Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius (Angel) with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Paul McCreesh at the Rheingau Music Festival, Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of Opera North. Elgar’s The Kingdom with the Southern Symphonia, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes Confessore & Handel’s Dixit Dominus with the Royal Northern Symphonia, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with the Orchestra of Opera North. Bach’s Mass in B Minor Orchestre Florilegium.

Records/ New Music Kathryn regularly collaborates with composers on new music; recorded the world premier of Roxanna Panufnik’s composition ‘Love Sought’ (also live broadcast BBC Radio 3) ‘The Sound of Shakespeare’ at RSC. Premiers of pieces by Ed Hughes at LDSMF, Kenneth Hesketh ‘Tall Tales Small Tales’ with RLPO 10/10. Michael Nyman’s Symphony No. 11 Hillsborough Memorial performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at Liverpool Cathedral (released 2014 MNRecords). Kathryn also premiered Nyman’s ‘Two Sonnets for Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz’ (live broadcast BBC Radio 3). During 2018 Kathryn will record composer Gary Carpenter’s songs with RLPO and perform the premier of Sir Karl Jenkins’ ‘Lament for Syria’ from Cardiff City Halls with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in November 2018 (BBC Radio 3)

Discography; critically acclaimed as a recording artist, Kathryn’s song, orchestral and opera recordings include; ’The Hills of Dreamland’ Elgar Orchestral Songs with BBC Concert Orchestra (Somm Recordings 2018) Roussel ‘Evocations’ BBC Philharmonic (CHANDOS 2018) ‘Songs by Donald Swann’ with Christopher Glynn (Hyperion 2017) Leoncavallo – ‘Zaza’ BBC Symphony Orchestra (Opera Rara) Bellini ‘Adeslon e Salvini’ BBC Symphony Orchestra (Opera Rara) Symphony No.11 Hillsborough Memorial RLPO (MN Records). Debut recital disc: ‘Love’s Old Sweet Song‘ with pianist James Baillieu (Champs Hill Records) “Whether or not you have any interest in English Song, if you like exceptionally thoughtful music-making, this album is for you…outstanding performances of every piece.” American Record Guide.

Merseyside – Home 
Kathryn co-founded Mersey Wave Music Community in 2012 with Jason Ellis in her home city of Liverpool and was recognised with a Merseyside Woman of the Year Award in 2016 for her services to the community and championing live music  participation for people of any age, from all backgrounds in all circumstances.  More info: www.merseywavemusic.com

Kathryn has a long-standing relationship with her home orchestra Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) She made her debut with the orchestra in 2004; highlights with the RLPO include gala concerts at Leeds Castle, Kent and Southport with Conductor Carl Davies, performing at the Liverpool Capital of Culture Opening Ceremony at the Liverpool Echo Arena, singing the names of the 96 Hillsborough victims for the world premier of Michael Nyman’s Symphony No. 11: Hillsborough Memorial at Liverpool Cathedral, soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Conductor Vasily Petrenko celebrating the RLPO’s 175th Anniversary, Valentines’ Concert with tenor Jesus Leon and Mendelssohn’s Saint Paul with Conductor Paul Daniel CBE at Huddersfield Town Hall and Vaughn Williams ‘Five Tudor Portraits’ conducted by John Williams.  In 2019 Kathryn will record Elgar with the RLPO and Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko and also perform in a series of concerts at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Forthcoming
In September 2018 Kathryn will perform as soloist in a gala concert in Westminster Central Hall attended by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex for The Royal Armouries 100 Days to Peace for Help for Heroes/Heads Together/Combat Stress marking the centenary of the final 100 days of the First World War. Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius at Chester Cathedral and Birmingham Town Hall. Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Festival Hall. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at Barbican Hall, London. Parry’s Judith at London English Song Festival. In 2019 Kathryn will return to sing and record at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with chief conductor Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. UK Tour with Sir Karl Jenkins’ 75th Birthday Concerts including Glasgow, Bridgewater Hall and Royal Albert Hall. CD releases of Coates and Hamilton Harty Songs 2019. Click here for more information on Kathryn’s forthcoming events

Kathryn is thrilled to be able to support charities and organisations with her music; performing for Clatterbridge Cancer Centre fundraising carol concert at the Duke of Westminster’s Estate and has sung for Royal Liverpool Hospital (RCharity) annually since 2014.  In December 2018 she will perform for RCharity Carol Concert at Liverpool’s St Georges Hall.  In memory of her beloved Dad George Rudge who passed away from Myeloma Blood Cancer aged 58 in Nov 2014.  Follow Kathryn’s Blog