Music
a passion for storytelling through song
Opera
Katie’s clear, agile mezzo-soprano voice and petite frame are well-suited to lyric mezzo repertoire, with a high coloratura extension uncommon in mezzo singers that makes her a sought-after “switch hitter” in soubrette soprano roles as well. Previous roles include Edith in The Pirates of Penzance, and The Cousin in Madama Butterfly (Tacoma Opera), Chloe in Princess Ida (Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society), and Peep-Bo in The Mikado (Northwest Savoyards). Her favorite roles include Cherubino from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Yum Yum from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, and Almirena from Handel’s Rinaldo. Read résumé
Sacred
Sacred music tells the compelling story of God’s incredible love of humankind, sung with sincerity. As a church soloist, Katie has performed tours in Sweden, Thailand, and the USA. Her experience as a liturgical soloist and choral section leader and her education at Seattle Pacific University give her a wide range of knowledge in songs of faith from oratorio to simple hymns and traditional songs. Her company, Seasons Caroling Co, specializes in providing beautiful, event-appropriate vocal music for weddings, memorials, and the Christmas season.
Folk Song
There is richness in simplicity.
Katie believes that by exploring folk music – literally “the people’s music” in Swedish – there is much we can learn about other cultures and ourselves. Based on oral tradition, passed down from one generation to the next, its stories of history, myth, morality, and love of the land give a unique window into the past and the deeply-rooted values of a culture. With a clarity and haunting quality, Katie’s interpretations of folk music are informed by this rich background and colored by her own creative perspective. Read about the 2015 concert tour in Sweden
Audio & Video
Kulning
Kulning is an ancient Swedish folk singing technique that was originally used to call in herds from the fields and forests. After learning Kula technique, Katie experimented in the wooded landscape of Echo Ridge near Lake Chelan, WA– a setting similar to where this song originally came from — to see how well it would travel. Didn’t have any cattle nearby to try it out on… but she did get a surprise when it drew in a wild deer! See the magic moment here:
The Live Album
At the request of Allt för Sverige viewers in Sweden, Katie released a live album of recordings made during her solo concert in summer 2014. The album LIVE AT URBAN GRACE is available on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify.
On tour in Sweden
Opera Duets
Book Trailer featuring original music written and performed by Katie Malik
Links
Press Kit – Bio – Gallery – Performance Schedule
Interested in voice lessons? Click here to read about the studio in Gig Harbor, WA.
From the blog:
How CF can make you a better opera singer
“How are you able to sing opera when you have CF?!”
I’ve never really known how to answer that question . . . since CF is a chronic, genetic disease, I’ve never known life without it, and I have no frame of reference for what singing would be like otherwise. Asking me how I’m able to sing is like asking a sea turtle how they’re able to swim so far with that huge shell on their back…. they would probably look at you cockeyed and say, “Why would it stop me? I was made to swim, and this is part of who I am.”
Spring updates – La Perichole opens tomorrow night!
April 29 – May 7: Tacoma Opera presents La Perichole by Offenbach
Friday, May 12: Cyrille Gosselin and Friends at Columbia City Theatre
Saturday, May 13: Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society Gala
Sunday, May 21: National Anthem at Seattle Great Strides for CF
Lund Domkyrka – I denna ljuva sommartid
There once was a young Swedish woman named Elna Persdottir, who grew up on a farm outside the tiny town of Eslöv in Skåne, in the south of Sweden. Elna was the oldest of five children, the daughter of a tailor, and from her father she learned the skills to become a...