Biography
Katy began singing as a chorister at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, at the age of eight. She studied Music at Durham University and graduated with First Class Honours in July 2012. She completed a Masters in Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music, graduating with Distinction in July 2018. Katy now studies at the Royal College of Music Opera Studio (RCMOS) with Janis Kelly.
Operatic roles with RCMOS include: Lady Dunmow in A Dinner Engagement (Berkeley), Suzanne in Robinson Crusoe (Offenbach), Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), Susan Wheeler in In the Locked Room (Watkins) and Chief Hen, Inkeeper’s Wife and Chorus in Cunning Little Vixen (Janáček). Katy also sang Phrygian Woman and Chorus in English Touring Opera’s production of Dardanus (Rameau).
Other recent performance highlights include: Soprano soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Myths and Fairytales at the Cadogan Hall (March 2018); Soprano soloist for Welsh National Opera and NEW Sinfonia in the North Wales International Music Festival (September 2017 & 2018); Soprano soloist for the NEW Sinfonia New Year Viennese Gala Concerts (January 2018); soprano soloist for the Klosters Music Festival (Switzerland, December 2016 and 2017).
Passionate about English Song, Katy was thrilled to win second prize in The Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition 2017. She was also a finalist in the 2018 London Song Festival British Song Masterclass with Roger Vignoles.
Katy has participated in the St. Endellion Easter Festival since 2009, and is now Co-Chairman of the Festival. Highlights of her performances there include: Second Witch in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, conducted by Jamie Burton (2011); semi-chorus of Janáček’s Diary Of One Who Disappeared, (2012); soloist for Vaughan-Williams Serenade to Music, conducted by Eamonn Dougan (2015); James MacMillan’s Three Scots Songs with Christopher Glynn in 2018.
Katy’s exceptional musicianship and love for contemporary music have led to her becoming a sought after artist for new music across the country. She recently featured as the Soprano soloist for the World Premiere of Oliver Tarney’s St. Mark Passion at the 2019 St. Endellion Easter Festival. In September 2018, Katy was the Welsh National Opera Soprano soloist for the World Premiere of Rebecca Dale’s Materna Requiem. In May 2015, Katy was the Soprano soloist for the recording of Oliver Tarney’s Magnificat with Convivium Records. In March 2014 Katy was the soprano soloist for the World Premiere of George Dyson’s Choral Symphony with the New London Orchestra and the London Chorus in St John’s Smith Square, conducted by Ronald Corp.
Katy is generously supported in her studies by The Cross Trust; Help Musicians UK; The Josephine Baker Trust; The Robertson Trust; and is an RCM Award Holder.
