Kate Witney was born in Louth, Lincolnshire and studied at Homerton College, Cambridge and The Royal Northern College of Music, where she held the D'Oyly Carte Bursary for Singing and sang with The BBC Northern Singers. Kate is a highly experienced concert soloist, having appeared with choirs and choral societies throughout the country, in venues such as The Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham, Lincoln and Southwark Cathedrals and The Swan Theatre, High Wycombe. She has made a number of visits to France performing Baroque music, whilst performances in opera, with Opera North and other companies, have taken her to Germany, The Royal Albert Hall and opera houses across England, including Buxton.
As a busy recitalist Kate works with the pianist Stuart Bower and the lutenist Robert Foster. Kate and Stuart gave a recital as part of the inaugural Lincoln International Chamber Music Festival and will be appearing at this year's Lincoln Book Festival with the actor Ian Hogg in an evening of songs and writings by the Scottish poet James Hogg. With Robert she is currently recording a CD of their very popular Christmas recital programme 'Rejoice and be merry'. Kate has researched the life and songs of the the nineteenth century ballad composer Claribel (Charlotte Alington Barnard) and her recital, in costume, 'An Evening with Claribel', which tells the story of Claribel's eventful life through the composer's own songs, letters and diaries, as well as the music which influenced her (Dibdin, Purcell, Balfe, Bellini and others), has been a great success. A new work by David Machell for soprano soloist and choir was recently premiered in Lincoln with Kate as soloist. In the field of folk music Kate is a noted exponent of traditional unaccompanied songs and has appeared at the National Folk Music Festival as a finalist in the Brewhouse Competition and at venues and folk clubs throughout the country. In 2002 Kate had the honour of singing an Armenian folk song at the National Holocaust Memorial Event at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, which was televised. Kate is appearing at the Lincoln Early Music Festival in August 2006 with a programme of unaccompanied mediaeval music. Kate will be appearing at the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival in July. www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org Songs for my supper is Kate's CD of traditional unaccompanied folk songs whilst her other CD With mortal voice is a collection of mediaeval hymns, folk hymns, Shaker songs and spirituals. Kate's new CD with Robert Foster (lute), Rejoice and be merry, is due to be released in May 2006. Kate is an experienced teacher and workshop leader and is Vocal Co-ordinator for the Lincolnshire Music Service. She conducts the Lincolnshire Youth Choir. Kate's concerts can be found on the Music:Link website and at www.concert-diary.com . Please email Kate if you would like to added to her mailing list for news of performances, workshops and CD releases. Brochure, sample recital programmes and details of concert and operatic repertoire are available on request. Press Comment: "Kate Witney showing signs of great things to come…" Ronald Milnes in 'Opera' magazine "Elle a seduit le public avec sa belle voix et de nombreux applaudissements ont affirme son succes." 'Le Progres' : "Her voice is rich and clear…timing and pace show the hallmarks of a polished singer." 'Folk Buzz' "....thoughtful and expressive singing…her voice is clear and precise…" 'Folktalk'