Trained as a speech and voice pathologist, Kathryn Cowdrick received her bachelor of education degree
summa cum laude from Pennsylvania State University, her master's degree
cum laude from Columbia University Teachers College, and attended the Professional studies, American Opera Center, at the Juilliard School.
She began her career when awarded an Adler Fellowship with the San Francisco Opera and went on to appear in many roles with the company that include Meg Page in Falstaff, Paulina in Pique Dame, Siebel in Faust, and in their productions of Die Zauberflöte, Don Quichotte, Il Ritorno di Ulysse, Romeo et Juliette, and The Medium. She was well known for her elegant portrayals of Rossini heroines, and made her European debut at the Netherlands Opera as Rosina in Dario Fo's controversial production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia. She went on to sing Rosina and the title roles in both L'Italiana Algeri and La Cenerentola for companies that include Scottish Opera, Vancouver Opera, Cologne Opera, L'Opera de Marseilles, Chautauqua, Kentucky Opera, Utah Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the National Arts Center in Ottawa, Opera Memphis and New York City Opera.
Cowdrick can be heard as Charmian on the New World Record's 1984 Grammy Award winning recording of Barber's Antony and Cleopatra, recorded live at the Spoleto Festival where she also appeared in Ken Russell's televised production of Madama Butterfly. She performed Karolka in Jenufa with the Opera Orchestra of New York, which was recorded live from Carnegie Hall on Grammaphone Bis.
She is in demand as one of today's foremost singing actresses, appearing in the Merry Wives of Windsor for Washington Opera, Sweeney Todd for the Princeton Festival, The Daughter of the Regiment for Kentucky Opera, Candide for Lake George opera, Engene Onegin for Tulsa Opera, The Ballad of baby Doe for Auguesta Opera, Little Women and the Pirates of Penzance for Fort Worth Opera, Il Barbiere di Siviglia and The Mikado for New York City Opera and in the premiere of Ned Rorem's opera Our Town for Lake George Opera.
In addition to voice, Miss Cowdrick teaches graduate vocal pedagogy and is a frequent contributor and adjudicator for Classical Singer Magazine. Recent appearances include Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro for Arizona Opera, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel for Augusta Opera, Berta for Florentine Opera's Il Barbiere di Siviglia and a Eastman Faculty Artist recital that featured Bon Appetit- an operatic monologue by Lee Hoiby and Julia Child.
