Mezzo Soprano, Katherine Saik DeLugan, is a cross-genre vocalist and performing arts educator who currently serves as a Core Lecturer in Music at Smith College; one of the largest women’s liberal arts colleges in the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Music from UMass Amherst, and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music where she focused on classical music and opera performance. While a graduate student, Katherine performed with the Manhattan School of Music Contemporary Opera Ensemble, and the Discover Opera outreach program which brought opera and cabaret to schools in greater Manhattan. She also performed with multiple chamber ensembles and as a concert soloist including Poulenc’s Gloria at Saint John the Divine Cathedral with Philippe Entremont conducting. Additionally, she was the second place winner in the Alan and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition and first place winner in the Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition. This culminated in a performance of Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 under the baton of George Manahan.  

 

Since returning to the Pioneer Valley, Katherine has been active in local and regional performing arts. Her operatic roles have been described by MassLive as “gloriously sung” and having “sparkled easily above the orchestra”. Her most recent roles include Sieglinde and Siegrune in Die Walküre, Octavian in scenes from Der Rosenkavalier, and the title role in Suor Angelica. She also regularly appears as a concert soloist with numerous regional orchestras, choirs, colleges and universities. In addition to opera and concert work, Katherine is passionate about art song and programs multiple recitals throughout the academic year exploring the rich traditions of Western Art Music.

 

In addition to performing and teaching, Katherine has been active in recent years as a stage director, administrator and producer for schools and local arts organizations. She is the current president of PanOpera Inc, has directed several musicals and ensembles for local school districts, served on the board of the Valley Light Opera, stage directed a professional production of Sweeney Todd, and produced two virtual concerts (Rhapsody and American Arias) during the pandemic.