Katherine Lerner, Mezzo-soprano

Biography

Hailed for her voice of "gleaming black lacquer," mezzo-soprano Katherine Lerner wields her richly hued instrument with sensitivity and expression.  In 2008, she was accepted into the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center, one of only five singers selected from over five hundred applicants.  During her three year tenure as a member of the professional development program, she has gained valuable experience both onstage and off -- singing numerous roles on the Lyric's mainstage, as well as coaching with such luminaries as Deborah Voigt, Marilyn Horne, Joyce DiDonato, Paul Groves, Gianna Rolandi, and Sir Andrew Davis.

Miss Lerner made her Lyric Opera debut as Rosette in David McVicar's critically acclaimed re-imagining of Massenet's Manon. Opera News praised her "spunky and frivolous flirtations" that captured the spirit of the opportunistic and tenacious character.

Another triumph at the Lyric was her role debut as Siebel in Gounod's Faust under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis. The mezzo's characterization and vocal abilities were widely praised. Chicago Classical Review described her performance as: "agile and aptly boyish...her youthful mezzo and spirited vocalism fully deserving of Siebel's rarely heard second aria, Si le bonheur."

Prior to her acceptance into the Ryan Opera Center, Miss Lerner received her Masters in Opera from the internationally renowned Curtis Institute of Music. While there, she undertook a wide variety of challenging roles, from the proud princess Sicle in Cavalli's L'Ormindo to the fiery poet Federico Garcia Lorca in the Philadelphia premiere of Golijov's Ainadamar.

Miss Lerner received dual Bachelors degrees in Voice and Historical Performance at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. The latter, a self-designed major inspired by her love of Baroque music and performance practice, culminated in an all-laments recital (Ploravit in Nocte) and a performance of Purcell songs at the Kennedy center with members of Oberlin's Historical Performance program.

The mezzo is an accomplished recitalist, having honed her skills at the Music Academy of the West and the Steans Institute at Ravinia. She has performed with top-tier orchestras around
the country, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Miss Lerner recently received a Richard F. Gold Career Grant, as well as awards from the Opera Columbus and Florida Grand Opera competitions. She is also the recipient of the grand prize Rose Ann Grundman Scholarship from the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation, and the Edith Newfield Award from the Musicians Club of Women.
Upcoming engagements include Wowkle in Puccini’s La fanciulla del West with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well

as returning to the company as the Third Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte in the 2011-2012 season.

(from piperanselmi.com)