The masks are finally gone, so we're taking off the gloves as well, to introduce an exciting new season under the direction of Kathrin Welte. 

 

A mezzo-soprano and conductor, Kathrin holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Mount Allison University, a Masters of Music in Solo Vocal Performance from McGill University and additional performance training from the prestigious Mozarteum Conservatory’s Summer Academy in Salzburg, Austria and the St. Andrews Opera Workshop. Ms. Welte's performance career spans art song to choral, opera to musical theatre. Her singing has been praised as being presented "...effortlessly and with style..." in Opera Canada (Ossama El-Naggar, Spring 2016). Ms. Welte has sung principal roles with musical organizations such as the Compagnie Baroque Mont Royal (Il Serpente di Bronzo), Opera da Camera (Le Nozze di Figaro, Cendrillon, Serse, Cosi fan tutte, Hänsel und Gretel) and the Montreal West Operatic Society (Orpheus in the Underworld, The Mikado). She has frequently been heard as the invited alto soloist in Bach cantatas with Serenata at St. John’s, in numerous recitals with Opera da Camera (Cabaret: de Berlin à New York, Le tour du monde en une nuit, Voyage d'amour, Bouquet Printanier) and in solo recital in New Brunswick and Québec. 

An accomplished choral singer, Ms. Welte has appeared with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Chorus (Beethoven 9th Symphony, Mahler 8th Symphony, Mozart, Brahms and Fauré Requiems among many others), the Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul (CBC Christmas Sing In, Lux Christmas CD-ATMA Label), Voces Boréales (Tim Brady 8th Symphony) and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal (Mozart Requiem, Falling Angels).

 

Since returning to New Brunswick in 2020, Ms. Welte has established herself as a conductor and teacher. She has conducted the UNB Chorale since 2021 and is very excited to now be joining the Bel Canto Singers of Fredericton as their artistic director as of the 2023/24 season.