Big news! New Jersey-born soprano Kathleen Echols returns!
After graduating summa cum laude from Westminster Choir College, Kathleen began to build a life in Santa Fe, NM where she worked as an elementary music teacher and church musician. During her time in Santa Fe, she did significant work with Opera West and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus. After much traveling and fierce studying, Kathleen will be returning to reside in New Jersey and continue singing in NYC.
Kathleen's 2025 season began with two incredible reprisals in the beloved roles of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Off-Brand Opera and Nedda in Pagliacci with Opera Vermont where she was praised for evoking "a nuanced tenderness from her brilliant soprano" as well as proving "a deft comedian." (Jim Lowe, The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus)
Wearing a few different hats this season, Kathleen took on the position of Assistant Director/Stage Manager with Opera Vermont for their production of La Traviata, and this summer will be working with Opera al Mare as a teaching artist.
Kathleen will be returning to Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy and Teatro Grattacielo for a third season in the role of Suzel in Mascagni's L'amico Fritz, opening on July 19.
2024 was a year of many triumphs, with the largest being a double-bill in two debut roles of Nedda (I Pagliacci) and Zemfira (Aleko) with Pacific Lyric Association in San Diego. These intense performances required physical and mental stamina, not to mention the difficulty of debuting in Russian. Kathleen continued her work with Camerata Bardi Vocal Academy by covering the role of Ruth in the world premiere of Flagello's Beyond the Horizon.
Kathleen also completed her trilogy of First Lady (Die Zauberflöte), First Woodsprite (Rusalka), and First Rheinmaiden (Woglinde in Das Rheingold).
Kathleen is also capable of thrilling performances in oratorio. This season she was the soprano soloist for Mt. Washington Valley's performance of Haydn's Creation. In 2022, Kathleen sang Mozart's Exultate, Jubilate and the soprano solo in Rossini's Stabat Mater under the baton of Gregory Buchalter, and later that year she sang as soprano soloist for Poulenc's Gloria with the Santa Fe Symphony.
In November 2024, Kathleen originated the role of Nancy Clutter in William Zeffiro's "Truman & Nancy" world premiere with Opera Vermont. The demanding role embodied the ghost of 16-year-old Nancy who throws her tantrums, yet grows to infinite understanding expressed in a hymn-like ethereal finale.
In 2023, Kathleen performed the role of Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana with Santa Fe's Opera West. That year was Echols's first Donna Elvira with Camerata Bardi and her first Mimì (La Bohème) with Opera al Mare. Other role debuts have included Micaëla (Carmen), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), and the title role in Puccini's Suor Angelica.
Kathleen will continue diving into classical, romantic, and contemporary music to fulfill what her lyric soprano voice was meant to do, meanwhile teaching our youth to appreciate music just as much in however way brings joy to them.