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The American mezzo-soprano and choral conductor, Katherine (Katie) Rohwer, began at the age of 6 singing in church and community choirs and studied piano, voice, and drama. She graduated summa cum laude from Western Michigan University with degrees in Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance in 2009. She has been a finalist in the Bach Young Artist Competition as well as a multi-winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition.
Katherine Rohwer is an active mezzo-soprano soloist and choral conductor. Performing nationally and abroad, her operatic roles include Dorabella in W.A. Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Meg Page in Falstaff, Mrs. Noye in Noye’s Fludde, and Mrs. Anderssen in A Little Night Music. She has been a soloist with the Theater Herblay Roger Barat in Herblay, France in their productions of Zanetto by Mascagni and Abu Hassan by von Weber. Solo work includes performances with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra and the Bach Festival of Kalamazoo Chorus.
An active chorister, Katherine Rohwer is an alumna of the World Youth Choir, with whom she explored and performed a vast array of musical styles throughout Europe and Africa under the direction of renowned conductors, including Peter Dijkstra, Gunnar Eriksson, and Bob Chilcott. She also represented the USA for the World Youth Choir’s 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony performance under the direction of Greta Pederson. She recently served as the alto section leader for the World Youth Choir's 2018 session in China. She is also a regular member of the international chamber choir, Time Ensemble.
Katherine Rohwer was the Director of Choirs at Stevensville Lakeshore High School, where she conducted four secondary school ensembles, directed the musical theater program, and taught music theory. In addition, she has conducted the Collegium Musicum of Western Michigian University, the Lake Michigan College Concert Choir, and prepared choruses for the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. She is a founding member of the Three Divas of Southwest Michigan, a vocal trio who use their background in opera, musical theatre and jazz to entertain throughout the Southwest Michigan area.
Ensembles under Katherine Rohwer's direction have consistently received superior and excellent ratings at District and State Festivals and have been honored with performances at the American Choral Director's Association Michigan State Conference (2018) and the Michigan Youth Arts Festival (2016, 2018, 2019). She is an active member of the American Choral Director's Association and has served the Michigan School Vocal Music Association as Secretary for the Board of Directors, State SATB Honors Choir Supervisor, and District 6 Manager. She was selected as the R.J. Johnson Distinguished Educator in 2019 by Lakeshore Public Schools.
Katherine Rohwer is pursuing a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Michigan, where she studies under Dr. Eugene Rogers. At Michigan, she serves as the assistant conductor of the Arts Chorale and co-conductor of Orpheus Singers. |
