Mezzo-soprano Katherine Altobello has been hailed a “spitfire…having the energy, concentration, and stamina to make it look easy.” (Daily Progress News, Charlottesville, VA). Katherine has performed with the New York City Ballet, San Diego Opera, the National Chorale at Lincoln Center, Austin Opera, Tulsa Opera, the Knoxville Symphony, Opera in the Heights, Ash-Lawn Opera, LOLA, Alamo City Opera, Lexington Music and Theatre Company, Janiec Opera, Music for All, Wildwood Opera, Austin Chamber Ensemble, KMFA Radio, Living Paper Song Project, Austin Artists Project, Project Live Notes, among others.
Favorite roles include Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Hansel in Hänsel und Gretel, Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin, Schaunard in La Bohème, Mercedes in Carmen, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and Liesl in The Sound of Music. Other solo engagements include: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Copland’s In the Beginning, Bach’s Oster Oratorium, Weihnachtsoratorium, and Messe in h-moll, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Haydn’s Paukenmesse, and Handel’s Messiah. Ms. Altobello was featured in Jake Heggie’s Paper Wings under the direction of Warren Jones in collaboration with Manhattan School of Music. Katherine recently performed with Living Paper Song Project’s I, too: the Voices of Langston Hughes, winning "Best Chamber Ensemble" at the Austin Critics Table Awards.
This April Ms. Altobello is the alto soloist in Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle with the San Gabriel Chorale at Southwestern University under the direction of Bruce Cain. In May Katherine performs a new work entitled "Meta Anthem" by composer Chris Prosser featured at "Here Be Monsters" held in downtown Austin.
Katherine was recently the alto soloist in Rachmoninoff's All-Night Vigil with the Texas Bach Festival under the direction of Barry Williamson. She was the featured soloist in the Texas premiere of Damien Geter's Cantata For a More Hopeful Tomorrow with cellist Hai Zheng and the Southwestern University Chorale under the direction of Beth Everett. Other recent engagements include soloist in Mahler's 4th Symphony with Austin Civic Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Lois Ferrari. Katherine was happy to perform two solo concerts last summer; the first was a concert of musical theatre and cabaret songs for Austin Artists Project "Lawn Concert" series, and the second was a virtual concert for "Project Live Notes". Katherine performed Bernstein Berlin and Birthdays with The Austin Chamber Ensemble to commemorate Huston-Tillotson University's "All Steinway School" inaugural season. Ms. Altobello performed "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" in Mack Wilberg's Requiem (Texas Premiere) with St. Edwards University singers and orchestra. Katherine was the alto soloist in Mozart's Requiem with Southwestern University under the baton of Dr. Kenneth Sheppard, in celebration of his 44 years conducting at the school.
Ms. Altobello holds a Master of Music in Voice from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theater from Southwestern University. While living in New York, Katherine studied extensively with Juilliard School's W. Stephen Smith. Other distinguished teachers and coaches include Cheryl Parrish, Carmen Pelton, Patricia Stiles, Gary Arvin, Charles Prestinari, Kathy Kozac, Kristen Roach, James Lesniak, Elden Little, and Warren Jones.
Katherine resides in her hometown of Austin, and teaches voice at Southwestern University. You can hear her sing regularly at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in downtown Austin, where she is the alto section leader and soloist.
Favorite roles include Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Hansel in Hänsel und Gretel, Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin, Schaunard in La Bohème, Mercedes in Carmen, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and Liesl in The Sound of Music. Other solo engagements include: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Copland’s In the Beginning, Bach’s Oster Oratorium, Weihnachtsoratorium, and Messe in h-moll, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Haydn’s Paukenmesse, and Handel’s Messiah. Ms. Altobello was featured in Jake Heggie’s Paper Wings under the direction of Warren Jones in collaboration with Manhattan School of Music. Katherine recently performed with Living Paper Song Project’s I, too: the Voices of Langston Hughes, winning "Best Chamber Ensemble" at the Austin Critics Table Awards.
This April Ms. Altobello is the alto soloist in Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle with the San Gabriel Chorale at Southwestern University under the direction of Bruce Cain. In May Katherine performs a new work entitled "Meta Anthem" by composer Chris Prosser featured at "Here Be Monsters" held in downtown Austin.
Katherine was recently the alto soloist in Rachmoninoff's All-Night Vigil with the Texas Bach Festival under the direction of Barry Williamson. She was the featured soloist in the Texas premiere of Damien Geter's Cantata For a More Hopeful Tomorrow with cellist Hai Zheng and the Southwestern University Chorale under the direction of Beth Everett. Other recent engagements include soloist in Mahler's 4th Symphony with Austin Civic Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Lois Ferrari. Katherine was happy to perform two solo concerts last summer; the first was a concert of musical theatre and cabaret songs for Austin Artists Project "Lawn Concert" series, and the second was a virtual concert for "Project Live Notes". Katherine performed Bernstein Berlin and Birthdays with The Austin Chamber Ensemble to commemorate Huston-Tillotson University's "All Steinway School" inaugural season. Ms. Altobello performed "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" in Mack Wilberg's Requiem (Texas Premiere) with St. Edwards University singers and orchestra. Katherine was the alto soloist in Mozart's Requiem with Southwestern University under the baton of Dr. Kenneth Sheppard, in celebration of his 44 years conducting at the school.
Ms. Altobello holds a Master of Music in Voice from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theater from Southwestern University. While living in New York, Katherine studied extensively with Juilliard School's W. Stephen Smith. Other distinguished teachers and coaches include Cheryl Parrish, Carmen Pelton, Patricia Stiles, Gary Arvin, Charles Prestinari, Kathy Kozac, Kristen Roach, James Lesniak, Elden Little, and Warren Jones.
Katherine resides in her hometown of Austin, and teaches voice at Southwestern University. You can hear her sing regularly at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in downtown Austin, where she is the alto section leader and soloist.