Kathryn Rudge Liverpool mezzo-soprano Kathryn Rudge is a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist (NGA) and was nominated in the Young Artist category of the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Awards 2016. Kathryn also made her BBC Proms debut during 2016 singing Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with the BBC Concert Singers and Conductor David Hill at the Royal Naval Chapel in Greenwich. Kathryn has recently been appointed in the ambassadorial role of Honorary Associate Artist at the Royal Northern College of Music where she studied between 2002-2011 with her vocal tutor Susan Roper
Award winning Kathryn was featured as The Times ‘Rising Star of Classical Music’ 2012 and is a YCAT artist alumni. She regularly performs in song recitals, concerts and in operatic roles; most recently performing to critical acclaim in the role of Rosina in Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville” for English National Opera. Kathryn made her professional opera debut at the London Coliseum in the role of Cherubino in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro in 2011 as an ENO Young Artist. Opera performance highlights also include the roles of Sesto (Giulio Cesare), Annio (La Clemenza di Tito) and Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) for Opera North. Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro) for Glyndebourne Touring Opera, the title role of Carmen at Glastonbury Abbey, Fanny Adelson e Salvini and Leoncavallo’s Zaza for Opera Rara and Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte for Garsington Opera. Roles performed during her studies include Bizet’s Carmen, Erika (Vanessa), Helena (La Belle Helene), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Olga (Eugene Onegin).
Kathryn’s debut record with pianist James Baillieu “Loves Old Sweet Song” was released on the Champs Hill Label in 2015 following a UK Tour with tenor Noah Stewart. Highlights of further recordings include Michael Nyman’s Symphony No. 11 Hillsborough Memorial with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and opera recordings of Leoncavallo’s Zaza and Bellini’s Adelson e Salvini with Opera Rara and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Kathryn will be featured on a record of Donald Swann songs with musical director Christopher Glynn due for release in January 2017. She has also made several live recordings this year broadcast by BBC Radio 3 including “The Sound of Shakespeare live” with the world premier of Roxanna Panufnik’s ‘Love Sought’. Listen to Kathryn at BBC Music
Recent concert highlights include Elgar’s Sea Pictures with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Conductor Ben Gernon, 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 and performances with Karl Jenkins and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 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.
Kathryn performs regularly in recital including appearances at Wigmore Hall, Leighton House, The Sage Gateshead, Cadogan Hall and Bridgewater Hall and at musical festivals at Ryedale, Brighton, City of London, Cheltenham, English Music, Lake District, Chester, Windsor and Uppermill, St Wilfrid’s and Richmond Live Festivals. Kathryn has also performed live for BBC Radio 3 in the Houses of Parliament and on broadcasts for In Tune.
Kathryn teaches singing and performance regularly in her home city of Liverpool and was awarded the Merseyside Women of the Year Arts and Culture Award 2016 as founder of Mersey Wave Music. Kathryn has performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on many occasions. Highlights with the RLPO include gala concerts at Leeds Castle 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 in Michael Nyman’s Symphony No. 11 Hillsborough Memorial, Beethoven’s 9th with Conductor Vasily Petrenko celebrating the RLPO’s 175th Anniversary and Mendelssohn’s Saint Paul with Conductor Paul Daniel in Huddersfield.
Kathryn has been the grateful recipient of numerous prizes and awards including the Joaninha Trust, BBC Fame Academy, Joyce & Michael Kennedy Strauss Award, Kathleen Ferrier Bursary, Susan Chilcott and Yamaha Music Awards. Kathryn is also a Samling Scholar.