Thanks to all my supporters!

I want to extend a heartfelt `thank you` to everyone who attended my recital. It meant so much to me to see so many friends and supporters in the audience!

The funds raised by donation have made a significant dent in my tuition fees at L'Universite de Montreal - THANK YOU! I honestly couldn't have done it without your support.

Moving day is July 23 - less than a month away! The remaining weeks will be occupied with packing and busking on the inner harbour. The weekly schedule can be found on the homepage of the Causeway Buskers Society, if you're interested in catching me in action!
http://causewayartists.ca/home.html

Kathryn Humphries Solo Recital

You are invited to a recital of songs and arias

Kathryn Humphries, Mezzo-soprano
With Kelly Charlton, Piano

Friday, June 26, 2009 at 8pm
Wood Recital Hall, Victoria Conservatory of Music,
900 Johnson St.


Programme:

Erbarme Dich J.S. Bach
From St. Matthew Passion

*****
Cara speme G.F. Handel
From Giulio Cesare
Parto, Parto W.A. Mozart
From La Clemenza di Tito

*****

Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit macht G. Mahler
Ging heut Morgen übers Feld
From Lieder eines Fahrenden gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer)

*****

Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle? C. Gounod
From Roméo et Juliette

~Intermission~

Pie Jesu (featuring Johnny Humphries) M. Duruflé
From Requiem Mass

*****

Nacht A. Berg
From Sieben Fruhe Lieder (Seven Early Songs)
All once I gladly owned S. Rachmaninov
Aria Ioanna (Joan᾽s Aria) P. Tchaikovsky
From Orleanskaya Deva (Joan of Arc)

*****

Now I lay me down T. Francis
From An Inch of Nothing
Hi Sooky! J. Greer
From A Sarah Binks Songbook

All proceeds from the recital are going towards Kathryn’s tuition fees for the Masters degree program in Vocal performance at L’Université de Montréal. Kathryn was accepted “on the spot” at her audition in March, and will be studying with Catherine Sévigny. She is excited to be improving her French language skills at this Francophone University, and taking in the vibrant arts scene in Montreal.

Kathryn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Acadia University in May 2007. For the past two years she has been continuing her voice studies at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and in Italy and France during the summers. While in Victoria she has participated in productions with the VCM Opera Studio and the Pacific Opera Chorus. She was a 2008 POV Young Artist, soloist with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir and the VCM Mozart & Haydn Festival, and this year`s “most promising singer” at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival.

This recital programme is a selection of songs and arias which Kathryn has performed this past year at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival, the VCM Opera Idol competition, the VCM Lieder competition, Opera Studio`s Production of Giulio Cesare, and the Christ Church Cathedral St. Cecilia`s Day celebration.

Special thanks to my German coach Klàdia Robertsdottìr-Lewis, Anna Cal, my Russian coach, and Jean Beauregard, my French teacher, for their guidance over the year.

Busking Schedule May 25-31

Busking season has started! Come down to the causeway and see Tiana Malone and I singing "Diva Duets" or me accompanying myself on the harp, like in years past.

Here's the schedule for this week:
Monday May 25, 7-9pm South Corner
Wednesday May 27, 7-9pm Centre spot
Friday May 29, 7-9pm South Corner
Saturday May 29, 7-9pm South Corner
Sunday May 25, 5-7pm Center spot


Check out Tiana and I on Benjamin Madison's Victoria Daily Photo website! Our photo was featured on Sunday May 24.

http://victoriadailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Durufle Requiem with VPC

Festival week is over, and my spoils include the Ethel James Award, Adaskin Award for Outstanding performance of Canadian Music, and the Most Promising Singer Award.
Now, onto a summer of Requiems!

On May 23 I'll be performing the Alto solo in the Durufle Requiem with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir directed by Peter Butterfield. The Pie Jesu for Alto Solo is a gorgeous piece, accompanied my Organ.

VICTORIA PHILHARMONIC CHOIR

SPRING CONCERT 8:00 pm May 23, 2009

Church of St John the Divine, 1611 Quadra Street, Victoria

Stay tuned for details on the Mozart Requiem at the Saltspring Island Peace Festival, for which I'll be performing the Alto solo on Father's Day weekend!

Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival

Well our Opera Studio production of Giulio Cesare closed this weekend, and I'm sad to say goodbye to it. But I won't have much time to mourn - it's time to get going on the next project!


I'm competing in six classes of the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival this year. Classes are open to the public, so please come by and enjoy some of Victoria's finest young singing talent. I'm hopeful to win prizes in a few of the classes. Here are the dates and times of the classes I'll be participating in:

Sunday April 19, 7pm (Francis James Adaskin Memorial Scholarship class for the performance of Canadian works)
Monday April 20, 7pm (Operatic Class, Senior Qualifying Class)
Tuesday April 21, 7pm (20th/21st C Art Song, French Art Song, Concert Group)
?Saturday April 25, 7:30pm (Rose Bowl Competition)?

All classes are located at the Victoria Truth Centre at 1201 Fort st, except for the Rosebowl competition, which will be held at the Philip T. Young Recital Hall at UVIC. My participation in the Rosebowl will not be confirmed until the day beforehand, but I'm hopeful for the chance to compete!

The festival pass is $20, and can be purchased at the following locations:

• Tom Lee Music 2401 Millstream Rd., Langford (383-5222)
• Heart and Soul Music Studio (formerly Heart Beat Music School) Unit 105-791 Station Ave. in Colwood (474-5397)
• Larsen Music 1833 Cook St. (389-1988)
• Long and McQuade (formerly Ward Music) 756 Hillside & Nanaimo (384-3622)
• Toes 'N' Taps Dance Shoppe 1733 Cook St. (480-0017)
• University of Victoria School of Music (721-7903)
• Victoria Conservatory of Music 907 Pandora St. (386-5311).

The Festival pass includes your admission to all performances except special concerts (Rosebowl competition $10 admission).

Opera Studio "Giulio Cesare" - less than two weeks!

VCM Opera Studio presents Handel's "Giulio Cesare", the story of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, with some other colourful characters added to the mix. I play "Sesto" - a young man bent on revenging his father's murder. Playing a man has been a wonderful challenge and learning experience for me. The part of Sesto consists of three solo arias and a beautiful duet, so I'm featured quite prominently! Please come and enjoy some fabulous Baroque opera with a modern twist sung by the students of the VCM Opera Studio.

Here is the media release.

Performances: April 1 – 3 (7:30pm) and April 4 (2:00p)

Performed by: Opera Studio
Artistic Director: Selena James
Assistant Artistic Director/Administrator: Barbara Livingston
Stage Director/Production Manager: Robyn Cathcart
Concert Information and Tickets: 250-386-5311
Admission: $18 and $15

Though early opera (18th century) and the 1980s are separated by 200 years on the historical time-line, the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Opera Studio are marrying these two eras by creating a very unique production of Handel’s Baroque masterpiece “Giulio Cesare” that promises to dazzle both ear and eye.

While this marriage might seem to make for strange bed-mates, are these worlds really so different? This work, rich with Egyptian and Greco-Roman elements, resonates strongly with a time that’s a little more familiar to contemporary listeners – the 1980s. The 80s were all about “excess” through politics, culture and economics – as was the Roman Empire during Cesare’s reign. This production of “Giulio Cesare” matches 18th century texture with visual modernity.

Throw in an audience seated literally in and around the action (seating will be in a U shape, with the production taking place in the centre), a set designed with 1950s art installation techniques, an all-female singing cast, and this traditional opera is transformed in to something quite unexpected, yet totally conducive to telling the story. While this isn’t your grandmother’s Handel, it does respect tradition and early music practices, including a challenging score that keeps the VCM’s Opera Studio students on their toes.

Making this unique production an even greater feast for the eyes is the fact that one of Opera Studio’s many talented students, Jessica Kalan, is creating all the costumes for “Giulio Cesare.” Kalan has recently been accepted to the prestigious Costume College in Van Nuys, California to attend an exclusive intense design workshop taking place this summer. Her most recent work assisting with costuming the Victoria Operatic Society’s production of “Guys and Dolls” received acclaim in local press.

Seating in Metro Studio is intimate, and limited – to avoid line-ups, purchase tickets in advance by contacting the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 250-386-5311.

C'est officiel - Je serai étudiante à l'Université de Montréal l'année prochaine!

After an very successful audition today at L'Universite de Montreal, I immediately received confirmation that I have been accepted to the Masters degree in Vocal Interpretation for this fall!

I am extremely excited to live in the dynamic and vibrant city of Montreal and study in French at L'Universite de Montreal. L'Universite de Montreal has a renowned music program and I am honoured to have the opportunity to study with their impressive faculty. I will be studying with Catherine Sevigny, whom I've worked with twice this week before my audition. We bonded immediately, both musically and in personallity. I think this is the start of a very special relationship.

Montrèal, je viens bientôt!!

Victoria Truth Centre 75th Anniversary Service, then to Montreal!

Sunday March 8th is the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Victoria Truth Centre, and I have been asked to perform at their anniversary service. The Victoria Truth Centre has played a huge part in my musical growth, and I am honoured to be a part of this important day. Our family has a 15-year history performing at the Truth Centre with the support and piano skills of their music director and long-time family friend, Wendy Stofer. We have always felt welcomed and appreciated by the congregation at the Truth Centre. My mother and I have recently been participating in the Sunday morning services as the congregational singing leaders.

Later that same day I will be boarding a plane to Montreal to spend a week working with teachers and coaches at L'Universite de Montreal and auditioning for a Masters degree in Vocal Interpretation. I'm very excited to spend some time in the city and getting to know the campus. At the end of my Montreal adventure I will hop over to Wolfville, NS to see my sister Liz sing Gretel in Acadia University's student production of Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel". I'm excited to visit my Alma Mater (it will be the first time I've been back since I graduated) and see my sister perform in her final year at Acadia.

Next up, Opera Studio's "Giulio Cesare" on April 1,2,3 and 4, then the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival in late April.

Mozart & Haydn Festival - solos!

The Victoria Conservatory of Music presents the Mozart & Haydn Festival from March 1-6. The Festival is designed to showcase emerging talent of the Conservatory. I will be performing in the Choral Concert on Sunday, March 1st at 7:30pm, in the Alix Goolden Hall.

I will sing the alto solo in Mozart's Vesperae de Dominica and the 3rd lady in the quintet from Mozart's Die Zauberflote. Other Arias and duets from the Magic Flute will also be performed.

Other concerts in the Festival incude a Free Children's Concert on Thursday March 5th at 9:30 and 11am, a Chamber Music Concert on Thursday March 5th at 7:30pm and an Orchestral Concerto Concert on Friday March 6th at 7:30pm.

Please come out and enjoy some of the Conservatory's finest Student and Faculty talent!

Masterclass with POV star Anita Krause

Hello everyone,

On Wednesday February 18th, I'll have the great honour of singing for Anita Krause, who plays Juno/Ino in POV's current production of Semele.

This masterclass is open to the public, and free, so please come out and see some of the POV chorus members being coached by one of the POV Opera stars!

7:30pm, Wednesday February 18th
Wood Hall, Victoria Conservatory of Music
900 Johnson st