BIO:
Mezzo Soprano Katie Weber is a dynamic and moving performer, with a commitment to text, musicality, and communication through music. "Weber possesses a formidable instrument, with a highly melodious but penetrating timbre.”(Rochester Democrat and Chronicle).
Prioritizing vocal flexibility and genre fluidity, Katie successfully weaves in and out of classical, musical theater, and popular music genres. She is currently studying to get her masters degree in Vocal Pedagogy at Syracuse University under the instruction of Kathleen Roland and Janet Brown. Her non-linear career has spanned from musical theater showcases, participating in workshops of new musicals and operas, recordings, both of new works and as a studio session singer.
She made her Off-Broadway Debut in Sweetee A New Musical directed by Emmy Award Winner Pat Birch at the Signature Theater at Pershing Square Theater Complex; a beautiful and poignant show about race in the south post civil war, and the triumph of friendship and music. This contract also allowed her to join the union that handles musical theater productions Actors Equity Association, she has been a member since 2017.
Premiering and recording Grace Oberhofer’s and Helen Banner’s Byzantine Choral Project Icons/Idols at Opera America and the New Ohio Theater(dir. Colette Roberts) and Outside of Eden at the New Ohio Theater(dir. Colette Roberts) were some truly thrilling professional experiences. With the project from the beginning, and playing multiple leads throughout the series of shows, this winding tale of the female leaders at the end of the Byzantine Empire gave Katie the chance to work closely with creatives and bring stories of forgotten empresses to life. Her voice lends itself to the intense and exciting characters. The podcast(everywhere podcasts are available), Icons/Idols: Irene features Katie in the lead, Irene, a young woman looking to find her place in a wild and iconoclastic empire. With the complicated and mostly a cappella treble operatic ensemble, the composer was able to really hone in on Katie’s vocal abilities to give an elaborate and intense musical experience.
Katie has been invited regularly to perform with her home town orchestra, Symphoria, both as their featured Pops Soloist performing everything from famous songs from James Bond films, to opera arias, and as a soloist for their yearly Messiah concert.
She made her New York City 54 Below cabaret debut performing with Icon/Idols. She has also performed in other interesting concert productions like Leonard Bernstein’s Mass with Tucson’s True Concord where she performed both the soprano and mezzo soprano solos using the entire range of her vocal abilities. Her work with Eastman’s Bach Cantata series as a soloist for BWV 36 & 72 brought her first international performance in Toronto, Canada.
Her interest in performing newly composed works has led her to perform and then record with many different composers; Charles Lupia’s Homebound with CNY’s Society for New music, Natalie Elizabeth Weiss’ Borderland, Faye Chiao’s Island of the Moon Kerrigan and Lowdermilk's Republic, Faye Chiao’s Fountain of You, Stephanie Sandberg's Mezzo, Byzantine Choral Project Helen Banner/Grace Oberhofer's Prinkipo and The Eunics, Brad Ross' Michael Strogoff, Grace Oberhofer's A Doll's House: A New Opera at The Tank Theater as Dr. Rank, and Brad Ross’ Tales of Custard the Dragon with Rochester Lyric Opera, Cary Ratcliff’s Master work opera Eleni.
Her work on the Icons/Idols podcast was not her only dive into multi media, Katie also stared in a short film for The Plaiedes Project inaugural production as Dorabella in scenes from Cosi fan tutte directed by Dara Melina.
She has received awards such as Lotte Kenya Young Artist Encouragement Award, the Civic Morning Musicals Ernst Bacon Award, the Eastman Ornest Award, and received 3rd place in the Eastman Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition.
On top of all of her performing experience, Katie finds is crucially important to share her love of music with young people. She is very aware that without the instruction that she got as a young person, she would not be able to share her voice and true calling as a musician. While in NYC, she consistently taught with multiple different schools, private and group instruction. After moving home during the pandemic, she felt a calling to give back to the community that gave her the skills and experiences needed to start her on her path. She cofounded the Syracuse Youth Chorus in 2022, modeled after the disbanded Syracuse Children’s Chorus. The mission of the choir is to give every young person in CNY the opportunity to be a part of a choir that will not only teach them about music, but help them grow into greater citizens of the world, performing in meaningful collaborations bringing choral excellence and a stronger sense community through music to CNY. As the Artistic Director, she was awarded the local LeMoyne 2023 Impact Awards ‘Newcomer of the Year’ Award. The choir performs with Symphoria regularly, and focuses on classical choral music, and cultivation of students voices and musical abilities. Find more info at: www.syracuseyouthchorus.org
Born and raised in Syracuse NY, Katie received a double bachelors from the Eastman School of Music in Voice Performance and Music Education. Her time at Eastman was filled with wonderful experiences performing leads in such operas as Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites(Mother Marie), Handel’s Orlando(Orlando), and Handel’s Xerxes(Arsamene), as well as other productions with Eastman Opera. She expects to graduate in May 2024 with a Masters of Music in Vocal Pedagogy from Syracuse University Setnor School of Music.
REVIEWS:
"Kay Weber as Irene specifically, drew you in with their deep love, desperation, and honesty as Irene must navigate the impossible."
-Max Berry Onstage Blog
".... it was Katherine Weber's interpretation of Mother Marie that was most compelling. Weber possesses a formidable instrument, with a highly melodious but penetrating timbre. Distinctive and disarming, her voice reinforced the steadfast yet decidedly enigmatic nature of Mother Marie, who insists that the sisters take the vow of martyrdom."
-Daniel J. Kushner Rochester City Newspaper
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/04/05/dialogues-carmelites-review/7346825/
"But it is Katherine Weber as Betty Rizzo that authentically landed in the period and the style. Her sarcastic delivery and mock bravado made the audience eager for her “tear your heart out” interpretation of the torchy “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.”"
- David Lowenstein Syracuse.com http://blog.syracuse.co/entertainment/2012/07/the_talent_company_revives_gre.html
"The always bad girl, Betty Rizzo (Katherine Weber) ranks as a kind of second lead, not quite a bully but setting a note of snarling intimidation. Forster and Weber lead the character over the longest arc of anyone in the show. "
- James MacKillop Syracuse New Times http://npaper-wehaa.com/syracusenewtimes#2012/08/01/?article=1640453