Expired Katie Van Kooten, soprano

Katie Van Kooten, soprano with Jeffrey Gilliam, pianist
Saturday, September 16, 2023
7:30pm

We are thrilled to have Katie Van Kooten returning to the Jansen Art Center to open our 2023-2024 Concert Series! Katie is celebrated for her thrilling performances in both opera and concerts, garnering praise for her powerful and radiant soprano voice. Her program will include a song cycle by Wagner, classic arias, followed by a lighter second half featuring musical theater selections and a special set from “The Sound of Music”.  Jeffrey Gilliam, piano, will join Katie for this delightful season opener.

American soprano Katie Van Kooten is known for her powerful and expressive performances, both in opera and on the concert stage. She has received acclaim for her role as Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Yevgeny Onegin and has appeared at notable venues such as the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House. Her impressive vocal range and radiant presence have earned her a following, and she has performed with renowned orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Katie is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and holds a Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Biola University.

Jeffrey Gilliam, part of Western Washington University’s piano faculty since 1992, boasts an impressive teaching background, including The Juilliard School, The University of Michigan School of Music, and The International Menuhin Music Academy. With global performances and teaching stints in Thailand and South Africa, he’s earned two Fulbright awards. Notably, he’s recorded alongside esteemed violinists like Yehudi Menuhin. Originally from Akron, Ohio, Jeffrey honed his skills under notable mentors like Cécile Genhart and Theodore Lettvin, while also learning collaborative piano from Martin Katz and Margo Garrett. At Western, he teaches piano and oversees the Sanford-Hill Piano Series, and he initiated the Jeffrey Gilliam Piano Scholarship Endowment Fund in 2015. His students thrive in prestigious graduate programs.

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor:

Thank you to our 2023 Season Sponsors:
Floyd and Delores Jones Foundation

Tickets are available at the Jansen Art Center during regular hours or can be purchased online. All tickets are non-refundable.