Catherine Crouch ~ Soprano
From an early age, Catherine has been performing as a choral singer and soloist. Her music studies started in Toronto, Ontario at the Royal Conservatory of Music and since moving to Vancouver in 1992, she has studied under Lars Kaario of North Vancouver and has been coached by Ray Nurse, Ellen Hargis and Doreen Oke through Early Music Vancouver's Baroque Vocal Program at the University of British Columbia, and Geordie Roberts.
Catherine recently participated in the Canadian Renaissance Summer Music School 2024 in Vancouver under the tutelage of Greg Skidmore: Il Fagiolini, Lucas Harris: Tafelmusik, Julian Gregory: King Singers and Sharang Sharma: University of Oxford.
Catherine was a member of the semi-professional Laudate Singers for 18 years and a principal singer for most of that time. She performed as soprano soloist with Laudate and in collaboration with many instrumental groups including members of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra and La Cetra. Recordings include A Baroque Christmas and Celtic Journey.
Catherine was also a proud member of Elektra Women's Choir under Morna Edmundson , the Pacifica Singers under Fiona Blackburn, the Gallery Singers under Jonathan Quick, and was the soprano section leader for 5 years for the Vivaldi Chamber Choir under Edette Gagné . She is excited to return to Laudate Singers for their final season with Lars Kaario.
Catherine toured Europe with the Capilano University Singers for four seasons and performed as soprano soloist in concert in many beautiful cathedrals in Italy, Germany and Austria. As well, she was the featured soprano soloist at Capilano University's Baroque Fest and Handel's Messiah. Most recently Catherine was a featured soloist with the Vivaldi Chamber Choir in their production of Handel's Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi's Magnificat and Beatus Vir .
Catherine was a soprano section leader and soloist for five years in the award-winning Christ Church Cathedral Choir in Vancouver under Rupert Lang and also at St. Andrew's United Church in North Vancouver for 6 years under Lars Kaario.
Other Vancouver choral credits include the choirs of S. Andrew's-Wesley United Church, Ryerson United Church, the Holy Rosary Cathedral quartet, Festival Vancouver Chorus under the batons of Helmuth Rilling , Tõnu Kaljuste and Jon Washburn.
SOLO CONCERTS
Catherine's love of Renaissance and Baroque music repertoire and performance has been nurtured and guided by esteemed teachers and participation in the Early Music Vancouver Baroque program. Catherine has produced successful early music solo recitals and concerts:
- O primavera May 2005 with Doreen Oke, harpsichordist
- Weep for love Sept 2003 with Doreen Oke, harpsichordist
- Mostly Monteverdi Feb 2002 with Don Conley, piano
- Music for a while June 2000 with Pat Unruh, viola da gamba and Monica Kim, Harpsichord