BIO
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Catherine Sandstedt, Coloratura Soprano, is a native of Columbia, Missouri but she currently resides on Long Island in New York. Catherine recently completed her DMA (Doctorate of Musical Arts) in Vocal Performance at Stony Brook University, where she first began her studies with soprano, Brenda Harris.
While at Stony Brook, Dr. Sandstedt has enjoyed many performances, namely performing Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites (Blanche), Mozart’s Il re pastore (Elisa), as well as the adaptation of Debussy’s opera Impressions de Pelléas (Mélisande), as well as Pigmalion (L’amour) and Il re pastore (Elisa). In addition, she has performed with the University Orchestra as a soloist for Handel’s Messiah; she performed Villa-Lobos’ No. 5 “Bachianas Brasileiras” on Stony Brook’s recurring Starry Nights concert in 2019; performed a duet from Derrick Wang’s opera Scalia/Ginsburg, with Tenor Jeremy Little and Derrick Wang himself at the piano; and performed the premiere of Nathan Heidelberger’s work, “Come il vento tra queste piante” with the Contemporary Chamber Players. Dr. Sandstedt has a love for teaching, and has been sharing her passion of music with her students at Suffolk County Community College as an Adjunct Faculty member since 2018. She has also been teaching privately since 2011, teaching many instruments: Voice, Viola, Violin, Cello and Piano, as well as Music Theory. Dr. Sandstedt enjoys working with students of all ages and musical backgrounds, hoping to help each student find their confidence with music, develop safe and proper technique and also help to expand their knowledge to better understand the theory behind the music each student learns. Before moving to New York, she received her Bachelor of Music in both Voice and Viola Performance from the University of Missouri where she studied with Ann Harrell (voice) and Leslie Perna (viola). She worked closely with Christine Seitz on many operatic performances before she graduated in 2016. Performances include Le Nozze di Figaro (Susanna), Gianni Schicchi (Nella) and The Crucible (Mary Warren). Additionally, she has performed at OperaNEO, which is based in San Diego, in Gluck’s Armide (Lucinde/Plaisir), and Handel’s Rinaldo (Almirena), where she was praised by the San Diego Story for her “ample voice.” Not only does Dr. Sandstedt perform as a soloist, but she has had the great pleasure to sing with the Marble Collegiate church choir in New York City as well as St. Ann and the Holy Trinity. But that is not where her choral work ends! She is a member of Vox Nova, a small choral ensemble of about 16 singers. Vox Nova consists of established music educators, conductors, and professional vocalists who meet once or twice a year, rehearse for 3 days and then perform two full concerts. She has also sung with choral ensemble Prometheus, conducted by Dr. Paul Crabb. In addition to these activities, she has competed in many competitions. She was a winner and soloist for the North Shore Choir Competition in 2019; a featured Top 10 Finalist in the Live Round for the Kentucky Bach Choir Competition in 2016; an alternate for both Voice and Viola in the MTNA (Missouri Teacher National Association) State-Level; she placed 2nd in the Senior Women division at the 2015 National level of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) in Greensboro, North Carolina; and she received 1st place in the Junior Women division at the Regional NATS in 2013. *Please see the Calendar tab above for all upcoming performances* |
