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The American mezzo-soprano, Kristen Dubenion-Smith, obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Alma College (1998-2002); and her Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland (2003-2005). Her teachers have included: Margaret Bragle, Julia Ellis, Victoria Walker, Dr. William Nichols, Marianna Busching. Awards/Scholarships include: 1st Place, MFMC (Music Federation of Music Clubs); went on to represent Michigan at Youth Day in Chicago, Illinois (1998); Heritage Vocal Scholarship to attend Alma College (1998-2002); George Castelle Memorial Award from Peabody Conservatory (2005).
Recognized for her “velvety legato and embracing warmth of sound” (Washington Classical Review) and voice of “sweet clarity” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Kristen Dubenion-Smith enjoys an active performing career in oratorio and sacred vocal chamber music, specializing in music of the medieval, renaissance and Baroque eras.
As a concert soloist, Kristen Dubenion-Smith has earned recognition for her performances of the works of the high Baroque, especially J.S. Bach and George Frideric Handel. Her December 2017 performance as Alto Soloist in J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) with The Washington Bach Consort was praised by critics as "a high point" (The Washington Post) for its "graceful musicality" (BWV 1129). Highlights from recent seasons include G.F. Handel's Israel in Egypt at the Washington National Cathedral, J.S. Bach's Magnificat (BWV 243) with Choralis, and J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass (BWV 232) with Bach in Baltimore. In previous seasons, she has appeared as Alto Soloist in works such as J.S. Bach's St. John Passion (BWV 245), Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610, Michael Praetorius' Christmas Vespers and W.A. Mozart's Requiem among others, with ensembles including Apollo's Fire (Director: Jeannette Sorrell), Dryden Ensemble, Opera Lafayette, The New Dominion Chorale, The Folger Consort, and Bach and Baroque Ensemble of Pittsburgh.
Kristen Dubenion-Smith’s operatic career spans more than a dozen opera roles performed throughout the USA. Some of her more notable roles have included Endimione in La Calisto, Hecuba in La Didone and Cupid in Venus and Adonis with American Opera Theater, Humility in Ordo Virtutum with the Peabody Early Music Department, Hansel in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel with Peabody Opera Outreach and La Baronne in Chérubin with New Jersey Opera Theater.
Kristen Dubenion-Smith also has a keen interest in contemporary music. She has had the privilege to work with The Evolution Contemporary Music Series the past three seasons where she has performed works such as David Lang’s Pulitzer Prize winning piece The Little Match Girl Passion as well as Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs and works by Arvo Pärt. Most recently, she performed, for the composer, selections from the chamber opera Song from the Uproar by NYC based composer, Missy Mazzoli.
Starting in the fall of 2016, Kristen Dubenion-Smith joined the Choir of Men and Boys/Girls at the Washington National Cathedral as the first woman to be offered a position in this choir. She had previously served as cantor since 2010. In her time with the Cathedral Choir, she has sung for liturgies, commemorations, and events of national importance- most recently, the State Funerals of President George H. W. Bush and Senator John McCain, the internment of Matthew Shepard, the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony and Prayer Service, and the 9/11 services at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Primarily based in Washington DC, she sings frequently with the ensembles of the Washington Bach Consort, Cathedra, The District Eight, and Chantry, in addition to distinguished ensembles such as Apollo's Fire in Cleveland, Ohio, Catacoustic Consort in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Dryden Ensemble in Princeton, New Jersey.
In 2010, Kristen Dubenion-Smith co-founded the award winning, Washington D.C. based Eya: Ensemble for Medieval Music. Eya has been presented at a number of distinguished venues and series including the National Gallery of Art, The Music Center at Strathmore, Washington National Cathedral, Columbus Early Music, and Dumbarton Oaks, in addition to numerous colleges, universities, and concert series across the east coast. The ensemble has been featured on Voice of America Radio, Millennium of Music on NPR, and is the recipient of the 2013 Greater DC Choral Excellence Award for Best Specialty Group: Early Music as well as a 2015 nominee for Most Creative Programming and 2018 nominee for Best New Recording. Eya recently released their second full-length album, "The Three Marys", in February 2018.
Kristen Dubenion-Smith has been involved in a number of commercial recordings with The Folger Consort, Apollo's Fire, Cathedra, and Via Veritae. In February of 2019, she will be recording a CD with The Clarion Choir and The Experiential Orchestra (information about upcoming release TBA). She currently lives in Catonsville, Maryland. |
