Professor Kate Paterson MA, Hon RAM, FHEA
New AMF Trustee (UK)
Kate was born in and educated in Melbourne. She worked as a singer and teacher for several years before coming to London to study with Janice Chapman.
Soon after arriving, Kate embarked upon a busy concert and oratorio schedule as soprano soloist in Exultate Jubilate, Mozart; Dixit Dominus, Handel; Petite Messe Solenelle, Rossini; Te Deum, Bruckner; B Minor Mass, Magnificat and St Matthew Passion, J.S.Bach; Magnificat, C.P.E.Bach; Messiah, Handel; Little Organ Mass, Haydn; Carmina Burana, Orff; and King David, Honegger at St James’ Piccadilly, St John’s Smith Square, The Dome (Brighton), Sheldonian (Oxford), St Mary’s (Oxford), Westminster Abbey and as guest soloist at Dartington International Music Festival and Three Choirs Festival. Kate sang the first soprano role in the Mozart Great Mass in C Minor at St John’s Smith Square, Westminster Abbey and the Sheldonian. She was soprano soloist for the Haydn Nelson Mass at the Brighton Festival with the London Mozart Players.
An interest in contemporary music led to a live recording of new Australian vocal music for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, the lead role in Stuart Greenbaum’s piece Obeah Night, a recital of Malcolm Williamson songs at Spitalfields Opera and an appearance at St John’s Smith Square as a soloist in The Grainger Event. Her operatic roles include Mimi, La Boheme; Pamina and First Lady, Magic Flute; Susanna, Le Nozze di Figaro; and Dido, Dido and Aeneas. Kate sang Queen of the Night with conductor Sian Edwards and for Royal Opera, she sang Tosca in the Singalong Tosca outside City Hall before the big screen relay from the main stage. Also for Royal Opera Katherine played Betty Doxy in Beggar’s Opera at the Linbury Theatre and gave a lunchtime Crush Room recital of Strauss songs with pianist Stephen Westrop. Her most consistent and prolific work at ROH was as an extra chorister – a job she cherished and excelled at.
Kate joined the staff at Guildhall in 2005 following three years as a singing teacher at Westminster School. She taught singing at Guildhall in the Vocal Studies Department, the Historical Performance Department and the Opera Department for more than a decade. Further teaching at Guildhall included lectures for Masters students on Reflective Practice and extensive contributions to the new PGCert in Performance Teaching. Following completion of a Masters in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Kate was made a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2014.
Kate took up the position of Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Academy of Music in September 2017. She was promoted to Professor at the University of London in December 2021 and was conferred the title of Hon RAM in July 2023. During her time at the Academy Kate has enhanced the curriculum significantly, upgraded assessment and feedback procedures, broadened performance opportunities and made highly successful teaching appointments. These improvements have involved significant consultation and collaboration with key staff at the Academy, active engagement with the Development Team and targeted donors, as well as discussion with students about what they want and need. Consequently, the department is in extremely good shape. Kate recruits high-quality Australian students energetically and mentors them carefully.