Katherine Soroka - Shall We Gather By The River

42 S. Palmer Street,Foxburg PA 16036

06 November, 2022

Description

Performing a classical cabaret of art songs, opera, jazz standards, musical theatre from Bizet and Rossini to Bernstein, Sondheim and more. KATHERINE “Kathy” SOROKA returns to reprise her 2006 ARCA inaugural concert on Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 2 PM in Lincoln Hall. Hailed for her “masterful” and “heartfelt vocalism” and “dramatic intensity… commanding the stage”, she’s known for her passion for conveying the song text and connecting with audiences. Kathy will be joined by tenor Robert Frankenberry, violinist Monique Mead and pianist Walter Morales in classical works by Rossini, Bizet, Strauss, Meyerbeer, and Menotti to the more popular fare of Kern, Bernstein, Gershwin, Sondheim and Les Miserables. The eclectic celebratory program will include many of the genres that ARCA audiences have enjoyed through the years, including art songs, chamber music, piano solos, opera arias, musical theatre and popular song – and a hauntingly beautiful work by Purcell remembering ARCA’s founders and all those who have generously supported it over the years. Pianist Walter Morales will perform two piano solos including a special tribute to ARCA’s President and founder, Dr. Arthur Steffee. Tickets are Adults $20, Students $5. Yes… this is an “ARCA family” celebration and gala birthday party, with the audience invited to enjoy a glass of champagne (or other bubbly) at intermission (provided by an anonymous donor) AND birthday cake and coffee served at the back of Lincoln Hall at its conclusion! Hailed as “masterful” with “heartfelt vocalism” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette), Mezzo-soprano Katherine Soroka in her world premiere performance of David Stock’s Songs of Solomon with the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble was acclaimed for “finding both lush lines and dramatic intensity… commanding the stage”. (TribLive) As an accomplished pianist, seasoned actress and gifted comedian, she creates characters that are brimming with life, pathos and humor. Reaching and touching audiences with the richness of the composer’s musical, poetic and dramatic intent is her inspiration. A winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society Auditions, Katherine is an avid art song interpreter and recitalist. For the Frick Museum in Pittsburgh she curated and performed a “Music for Exhibitions concert” with Chatham Baroque in conjunction with “From Michelangelo to Annibale Carraci, A Century of Italian Drawings From the Prado”. Katherine has performed recitals in numerous New York City venues including Merkin and Cami concert halls and on the Trinity Church and Saint Stephens Church concert series, at Allegheny College with pianist Alec Chien, and in recitals collaborating with pianist Nathan Carterette in Pittsburgh on the First Friday Series at The Church of the Redeemer, the Chatham University concert series, for Tuesday Musical Club and in Walker Recital Hall at Mercyhurst University in Erie. Katherine has performed with Walter Morales as soloist with the Edgewood Symphony, for whom he serves as Music Director, singing Mahler, Bernstein and David Stock. Robert Frankenberry and Katherine have performed together in many Aria412 concerts and a Mozart celebration for Chatham University. All three artists – Katherine, Robert and Walter – performed in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera and Richard Strauss’ Elektra with the Chatham Concert Opera. Performances with orchestra include singing Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Music Director Lucas Richman and narrating concerts with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Tiny Tots and Schooltime educational concerts under the batons of conductors Daniel Meyer and Lawrence Loh. With Music Director Walter Morales, with whom she collaborates in this concert, Katherine performed Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Bernstein’s Jeremiah Symphony and David Stock’s Three Yiddish Songs with the Edgewood Symphony. She also sang Copland’s Old American Songs with the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra at the Carnegie Library Music Hall. Celebrated each as soloists, Katherine and Friends will share with the Lincoln Hall audience the joy they have had making music together on some of the leading concert series in Pittsburgh.