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Kathleen schmidtKathleen Schmidt is a lyric mezzo-soprano specializing in medieval chant, Renaissance polyphony, and Baroque opera and oratorio. She is an accomplished performer of sacred and choral music, and has directed choirs and led educational programs to increase the impact of early (pre-Classical-era) music as a vibrant, living genre.
In April 2016, she conducted a DEMC performance of Spanish Renaissance polyphony, including a Requiem Mass for double choir by Mateo Romero. In November 2015, Kathleen was the alto soloist for the St. Martin's Chamber Choir performance of the Mozart Requiem arranged for choir and piano for four hands by Carl Czerny. Earlier in 2015, Kathleen appeared at the Dairy Center of the Arts in Boulder, and in the Classical Series at Dazzle Jazz in Denver, debuting works by Hildegard of Bingen on programs featuring female composers. In 2014, she was selected to be a chorister in a special performance of Thomas Tallis’ 40-part motet, Spem in Alium, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. That year, she also participated in the Amherst Early Music Winter Weekend, performing duets by Agostino Steffani. In 2013, she performed the role of Nutrice in the Peabody Opera Workshop production of L’incoronazione di Poppea at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. |
In previous years, she gave numerous public recitals and performances incorporating medieval chants such as those composed by Leonin and Perotin, and showcasing sacred works by Vivaldi, Handel, and other early composers. Kathleen has designed curricular programs of early music for grade-school education outreach at the request of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and has performed and led classroom presentations at several Denver-area public schools at the Symphony’s request.
Kathleen has guest-conducted numerous choral ensembles for churches in the Denver area, including Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and Lakewood United Methodist Church. She briefly served as interim choirmaster for the professional choir of Mount Calvary Church, an Anglican-use Catholic church in Baltimore. She began conducting as a student of Maestro Scott O’Neil, Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and served as business manager for Maestro O’Neil’s chamber ensemble, the Rosetta Music Society.
Kathleen has been performing early music on the concert stage since 2002, beginning her career singing and playing Renaissance and Baroque recorder and percussion in the Collegium Musicum ensemble of the Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She holds a Master of Music - Voice degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where she specialized in early music study.
Kathleen serves as a choral vicar at Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver under the direction of Maestro Stephen Tappe, and begins her second season this year as a chorister in Saint Martin’s Chamber Choir under the direction of Maestro Tim Krueger. In December 2016 she looks forward to her debut performance with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado.
Kathleen has guest-conducted numerous choral ensembles for churches in the Denver area, including Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and Lakewood United Methodist Church. She briefly served as interim choirmaster for the professional choir of Mount Calvary Church, an Anglican-use Catholic church in Baltimore. She began conducting as a student of Maestro Scott O’Neil, Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and served as business manager for Maestro O’Neil’s chamber ensemble, the Rosetta Music Society.
Kathleen has been performing early music on the concert stage since 2002, beginning her career singing and playing Renaissance and Baroque recorder and percussion in the Collegium Musicum ensemble of the Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She holds a Master of Music - Voice degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where she specialized in early music study.
Kathleen serves as a choral vicar at Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Denver under the direction of Maestro Stephen Tappe, and begins her second season this year as a chorister in Saint Martin’s Chamber Choir under the direction of Maestro Tim Krueger. In December 2016 she looks forward to her debut performance with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado.