Join Katherine Skovira for her virtual presentation with the Boulanger Initiative: “Forgotten Fach: The Sfogato and Where to Find Her” at 7pm ET.

The compositions of women composer-singers such as Colbran and Viardot are powerful vehicles for the exploration of vocal identity and vocal writing, in ways that voice science is still uncovering. This talk will describe current practices and emerging technologies, introduce a data-driven and ongoing analysis of familiar power structures, and illuminate an inquiry into the embodied experience of writing and performing by and for women's voices. This study casts doubt on the efficacy of the existing Fach System and recommends a redress beginning with female-assigned voices based on a new data-driven method of vocal analysis and voice typing.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forgotten-fach-the-sfogato-and-where-to-find-her-tickets-819297178917?aff=email&mc_cid=5a9ec28738&mc_eid=09b3fe8f62

Learn more about the exciting events and mission of the Boulanger Initiative at: www.boulangerinitiative.org

Bjorn This Way Foundation Benefit

• FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

• 8:00 PM

Bjorn This Way Foundation Benefit Concert

Portland, OR. (livestreamed)

With the premiere of Skovira’s The Universe, A Woman, texts by Uma Menon

8:00pm

Join Katherine at the Voice Foundation’s 52nd Annual Symposium on the Care of the Professional Voice. She will present a poster presentation on June 1 at 4pm on “The 21st century sfogato.” This contentious voice type has evolved across its centuries and our understanding of it continues to evolve today. Katherine explores this marginalized vocal identity with data-driven and spectrogram analysis and historical and contemporary examples of scores and singers.

This paper explores: does the sfogato exist?  Might we define the properties of sfogato writing in past and contemporary vocal compositions?  Do we benefit from an expansion of our long adherence to the Fach system and a limited perspective on female-assigned voice classification?  If not, how might we navigate the road forward to understand the unified female-assigned voice beyond historic solecisms, sexism, and racism that proponents and opponents of the sfogato have associated with these discussions? Finally, how might an embodied feminist vocal pedagogy inform this analysis? 

Katherine joins the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Orchestra with Ravel's iconic Shéhérazade.

Katherine Skovira, mezzo-soprano
Robert Whalen, conductor
Rensselaer Orchestra

EMPAC, Troy, NY

Bjorn This Way Foundation Benefit Concert

Portland, OR. (livestreaming)

8:00pm

The Forgotten Fach: Soprano Sfogato in the 19th century - Katherine Skovira

International Congress of Voice Teachers, University of Vienna

https://icvt2022.univie.ac.at/program/timetable/clara-schumannsaal/#c799800

Works by Pauline Viardot, Reynaldo Hahn, Bernard Rands, and other to be announced.

Katherine Skovira, mezzo-soprano
Jean-David Coen, piano

Willamette University, Salem, OR.

New work (2022) to premiere by Caroline Shaw.

Katherine Skovira, mezzo-soprano
Jean-David Coen, piano
Willamette University, Salem, OR.

Katherine joins Andrea Clearfield’s Salon on May 24 in celebration of new, community-engaging works featuring Philadelphia-based composers.

This celebratory program regularly features diverse artists across the musical spectrum of classical, contemporary, electronic, folk, blues, jazz, swing, fusion, Chinese and Argentine music, poetry and modern dance!

This is a private performance for invited guests.

Network celebrates Jan Krzywicki’s 30th anniversary as the conductor of the Network Ensemble and salutes his dedication to the advancement of new music through composition, education, and performance. The program will feature Krzywicki’s own Catching Light, a Network for New Music commission (2013), a new work by Krzywicki student, Michael Shingo-Crawford, and long-time friend Robert Capanna’s Stria. A major new commission, Waves, by Grawemeyer Award-winning composer (and Krzywicki favorite), Sebastian Currier, will premiere with Krzywicki conducting and Katherine Skovira as soprano soloist.

http://www.networkfornewmusic.org/events

Network celebrates Jan Krzywicki’s 30th anniversary as the conductor of the Network Ensemble and salutes his dedication to the advancement of new music through composition, education, and performance. The program will feature Krzywicki’s own Catching Light, a Network for New Music commission (2013), a new work by Krzywicki student, Michael Shingo-Crawford, and long-time friend Robert Capanna’s Stria. A major new commission, Waves, by Grawemeyer Award-winning composer (and Krzywicki favorite), Sebastian Currier, will premiere with Krzywicki conducting and Katherine Skovira as soprano soloist.

http://www.networkfornewmusic.org/events

April 17, 2020
SoundLAB, VocaliD, and Hub New Music present a new concert project involving voice, ensemble and electronics exploring themes of voice as identity and speechlessness through the advocacy and groundbreaking technology of Dr. Rupal Patel and VocaliD’s customized voices and assistive technology.

April 17 will be the world premiere of Robert Whalen’s new 2020 work for voice and ensemble utilizing a custom-built voice in live performance. Additional events across April 17, 2020 will include performances, master classes, film screenings and a special talk with Dr. Patel.

Performances will include additional premieres by Hannah Lash, in SoundLAB’s Boston debut and Hub New Music’s Philadelphia debut.

Katherine Skovira attends the Reading FilmFEST Robert Whalen, Music Director of SoundLAB for a screening of the new film Camp Alec (http://www.campalec.com/home) on the ways that voice and voice synthesis enable connection across physical challenges of motor-sensory disorders, autism, cerebral palsy, and verbal apraxia.

From the producer’s website: “This unique camp is specifically designed for children with physical disabilities whose primary communication mode is AAC (augmentative and alternative communication).” The film Run Time is 18:00 minutes and was produced by a team of producers including Frank Marshall, the producer of such films as the Indiana Jones franchise, Jurassic World franchise, Jason Bourne franchise, Back to the Future franchise, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

LANGUAGE + LITERACY

=

EMPOWERMENT

Space, Ice, and Fire
Mining the Music from Data
Glenn McClure, composer
Katherine Skovira, mezzo-soprano
Jean-David Coen, piano

Willamette University, Salem, OR

Composer Glenn McClure will share his work with scientists at the European Space Agency, the National Science Foundation in Antarctica, and Hawaii Volcanos National Park in giving a musical voice to the planet. His approach to sonification offers both an artistic vehicle for eco-musicians and a potent new tool for big data analysis. McClure will also explore the emerging roles for musicians who wish to join the dialogue on Climate Change. The presentation will culminate in the world premiere of Listening for Pele performed by Katherine Skovira, mezzo-soprano, and Jean-David Coen, piano, and based upon data from the Kilauea Volcano of Hawaii.

7:30pm Cone Chapel, Salem, OR

World Premiere of “The Wind” with the Delaware County Symphony Chamber Series

Katherine Skovira, voice
Robert Whalen, percussion/piano

Text by Dafydd Ap Gwilym

The Wind

Sky-wind, unhindered course,
mighty commotion passing yonder,
you are a harsh-sounding minstrel,
world's fool without foot or wing.
It's amazing how wondrously you were sent
from the pantry of the sky without any feet,
and how swiftly you run
now across the hilltop on high.

Constant hymn, tell me your destination,
you north wind of the valley.
You fly the length and breadth of the world,
hilltop weather, be on high tonight,
oh man, and go to Uwch Aeron
nice and gently, a clear song.
Don't wait, don't restrain yourself,
don't be afraid despite Bwa Bach,
[he who] serves a malicious accusatory complaint.
The land and its nurture is closed to me.

[One who] steals nests, though you winnow leaves
no one indicts you, you are not restrained
by any swift troop, nor officer's hand,
nor blue blade nor flood nor rain.
No mother's son can kill you (false expression),
fire won't burn you, deceit won't weaken you.
You won't drown, you've been forewarned,
you won't get entangled, you are smooth.
There's no need for any swift horse beneath you,
or bridge over estuary, nor boat.
No official or retinue will arrest you
to bring you to judgement, winnower of treetop foliage.
No eyesight can see you, huge open lair,
thousands hear you, nest of the great rain.

You are God's blessing over all the earth,
roaring, fierce shattering of oak tree tops,
swift-natured notary of the sky,
fine leaper over many barren lands.
Dry nature, powerful creature,
trampler of the sky, immense journey,
shooter on snowfields up above,
noisy disperser of chaff-heaps,
storm agitating the sea,
high-spirited lad on beach waves,
you are a fine author of an awdl who scatters snow,
you are a scatterer, a pursuer of leaves,
free laugher [on] hilltop,
thruster of the wild-masted white-breasted sea.

Woe is me that I placed deep love
on Morfudd, my golden girl.
A maiden made me an exile,
run on high to her father's house.
Knock on the door, make it open
to my messenger before daybreak,
and seek a way to her, if there be one,
and sing the voice of my sigh.
You come from the splendid stars,
say this to my noble faithful maid:
as long as I be in the world,
I am a true servant.
Woeful is my face without her,
if it is true that she is not untrue.
Go up on high, you will see the fair girl,
go down below, sky's favourite.
Go to fair-haired Morfudd Llwyd,
come back safely, you are the sky's treasure.

Translation by http://www.dafyddapgwilym.net.

Katherine joins the Delaware County Symphony Chamber Series for a performance of Schubert's Auf dem Strom.

Katherine joins the forces of SoundLAB in its debut at the Philadelphia Orchestra's Barnes-Stokowski Festival to perform Augusta Read Thomas’s Plea for Peace.

Tickets are free and reservations are encouraged at www.tickets.philorch.org.

Read more about SoundLAB and its debut across five days of events www.soundlabensemble.org.

Skovira joins the musicians of SoundLAB for a performance of Augusta Read Thomas's Plea for Peace at the Barnes-Stokowski Festival of the Philadelphia Orchestra. This performance, part of the Orchestra's festival celebrating the relationship and innovation of Dr. Albert Barnes and Maestro Leopold Stokowski in the arts, music and education, celebrates a five-day festival of contemporary music to include works by Xenakis, Haas, the American premiere by Zosha di Castri, and 11 Philadelphia premieres.

Katherine Skovira and Anna Urrey perform works by Schoenberg, Debussy, Aperghis, Gubaidulina, Corigliano, and Rands, in part of a video documentary of the Free Library's upcoming new spaces and in a pop-up performance in the Music Department.

Monday, December 11
2-5 pm (exact time tba)
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130

This pop-up performance is free and open to the public; the video recording in the stacks is a private event.

For more information, please visit http://www.freelibrary.org and read more here. Watch a video of the construction here.

Debut of the Choral Concert Series Resounding Voices: "Vigilia" at the Barnes Foundation

Resounding Voices is a new free choral series showcasing vocal traditions from around the world on Sunday afternoons, alternating with the Solo Series. Guest Conductor Robert Whalen leads the talented Philadelphia Voices in this inaugural program featuring a complete performance of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara’s stunning Vigilia for a cappella choir. At once peaceful and awe-inspiring, Vigilia is a beautiful and apt beginning to the Resounding Voices Choral Series.

Katherine joins the Philadelphia Voices in Rautavaara’s Vigilia.

Sunday, February 26
3–4:15 pm
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130

FREE

For more information about this event, please visit www.barnesfoundation.org.

Katherine will sing Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé with chamber musicians of the Delaware County Symphony on a program featuring dancers of the Academy of International Ballet.

For more information and ticketing, please visit www.dcsmusic.org. To hear more about the event in discussion with the Director of Chamber Music and Associate Conductor of the Delaware County Symphony, please visit www.comcastnewsmakers.com.

Sunday, February 12
3–4:30 pm
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130

For more information about this event, please visit www.barnesfoundation.org.

The Barnes Foundation launches its first concert series, the Solo Series, with its Debut Concert: "Fragments." Each Solo Series presents an unaccompanied instrumentalist or vocalist, allowing for intense focus on the artist.

This inaugural program features clarinetist Carol McGonnell, hailed as “extraordinary” by the New York Times, and noted contemporary music soprano Katherine Skovira. Moving between solo clarinet and singer and between spoken and sung text, the program meditates on silence, displacement, and alienation. With works by contemporary composers Georges Aperghis, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Bernard Rands, and poetry by E. E. Cummings, T. S. Eliot, Emily Dickinson, Audre Lorde, and David Lehman's Mythologies, read by the poet himself, this performance also includes the world premiere of Robert Whalen’s i carry your heart for solo voice and the US premiere of Ann Cleare’s eyam i (it takes an ocean not to) for solo clarinet.

Friday, January 27
8-9:30 pm
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130

For more information and ticketing, please visit www.barnesfoundation.org

Katherine joins the Opera Company of Brooklyn in the role of Angelina for its July 23 performance of Rossini's La Cenerentola. For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit https://squareup.com/store/operabrooklyn/

In collaboration with the faculty and fellows of the Summer Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice (SICPP), Katherine performs at the New England Conservatory of Music's Brown Hall.

Charles Ives: Sunrise
Gabriela Diaz, violin
Yukiko Takagi, piano

György Kurtág: Einige Sätze aus den Südelbuchern Georg Christoph Lichtenbergs
Kiyoe Wellington, double bass

John Cage: The Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs
Mike Jones, percussion

Program Notes:

Here follow some “sentences” from the “scrapbooks” of Georg Christoph Lichtenbergs (1742-1799), German scientist, satirist, and Anglophile. Lichtenbergs is best remembered for his discovery of tree-like patterns created by electrical discharge and for his Sudelbüchern, which he modeled off of the tradition of English bookkeeping or scrapbooks from 1765 until his death in 1799. Hungarian composer György Kurtág (b. 1926) set selections from the volumes to music for voice and double bass in this dark yet playful fragmented composition. Kurtág’s Sätze are highly detailed and nuanced, and build on his earlier Kafka Fragments (1985-1987) for voice and violin and Jozéf-Attila Fragments for solo voice (1981). The humor in Sätze is like that of Kafka’s “A Little Fable”: dark, compelling, and horrifyingly true. Though Lichtenbergs’ bulk of texts offer no central philosophy, they do offer keen observations into human nature and the lighter and darker sides of existence, love, death, suffering and joy. - Katherine Skovira

Katherine performs an improvisation with Vinko Globokar with members of the Summer Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice (SICPP) and in collaboration with the New England Conservatory of Music.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum showcases the unique collection of collector and philanthropist Isabella Stewart Gardner and offers a unique space for performance series in addition to its beautiful collection, gardens and grounds. Here, Katherine presents Schoenberg's "Der kranke Mond", movement 7 of Pierrot lunaire, and Bernard Rands' Memo 7, based on a text by Emily Dickinson. 

Memo 7 is a tribute to the Sequenza series of Luciano Berio and to the poetry of Emily Dickinson, in a fragmentary and ultimately triumphant work adamant in its portrayal of one woman's ability to overcome abuse and violence.
 

Bind me — I still can sing —
Banish — my mandolin
Strikes true within —

Slay — and my Soul shall rise
Chanting to Paradise —
Still thine.

The Salon, a renowned performance series modeled after the 19th Century European salons, was founded in September 1986 by composer Andrea Clearfield. The Salon was conceived with the idea of integrating different music genres as well as other arts. Here, Katherine presents Bernard Rands' Memo 7, based on a text by Emily Dickinson. 

Memo 7 is a tribute to the Sequenza series of Luciano Berio and to the poetry of Emily Dickinson, in a fragmentary and ultimately triumphant work adamant in its portrayal of one woman's ability to overcome abuse and violence.
 

Bind me — I still can sing —
Banish — my mandolin
Strikes true within —

Slay — and my Soul shall rise
Chanting to Paradise —
Still thine.

The Salon is a private event. For more information, please inquire via the Contact page.

By invitation following her work with the musicians of the Delaware County Symphony in Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Katherine returns to Neumann University to sing works by Rossini and Bellini in an "Evening in Venice", fundraiser for the University.

7:00pm Hor d'oeuvres
8:30pm Concert
9:30pm Dessert, Dancing and Champagne

Katherine Skovira joins the Delaware County Symphony for their Children's Concert, singing Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen in the Meagher Theater at Neumann University's Thomas A. Bruder, Jr. Life Center. The program also includes selections from Adams' Hallelujah Junction, Reich's Clapping Music, Beethoven's Symphony no. 9, Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Bach's Cello Suite no. 1, and several works by Schubert.

Katherine Skovira, mezzo-soprano
Kyle Adam Blair, piano

Centered around Lieberson's Neruda Songs, with works that explore questions of love and life beyond death, and the dark and light sides of sorrow and longing, including Schubert, Schoenberg, Babbitt, and Lieberson, as well as new premieres by Robert Whalen and Kyle Adam Blair!

The event is free and open to the public, including repertoire from Katherine's position as New Music Fellow under Lucy Shelton's guidance in Los Angeles.

http://www.rider.edu/events/summer-westminster-songs-beyond-death