BIOGRAPHY
American vocalist Katerina Burton, acclaimed for her “rich and warm” singing (Opera Wire) is a recent graduate of the Cafritz Young Artist program at Washington National Opera where she made a thrilling role debut as Micaëla in Francesca Zambello’s acclaimed production of Carmen. The 2023-2024 season features many role and company debuts, including her debut as Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the premiere of Adolphus Hailstork’s commissioned work JFK: The Last Speech with the National Symphony Orchestra which will feature Kevin John Edusei’s skillful conducting as well as narration by Phylicia Rashad. Ms. Burton also made significant debuts last season as a soprano soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda in Bach’s Magnificat and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9 with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop, and a thrilling debut with the Richmond Symphony performing Mahler’s ‘Resurrection Symphony’. She joined Aspen Music Festival as a Renée Fleming Artist where she debuted the role of Alice Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff starring opposite acclaimed bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel.
"Katerina Burton is a standout..."
- ST. LOUIS TODAY
Additional career highlights include Ms. Burton’s work on the world-premiere recording of Jeanine Tesori’s Blue, which was awarded “Best New Opera”of 2020 (Music Critics Association of America). Burton also originated the roles of Verna, Young Lovely, and Evelyn in the world premiere of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up In My Bones with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and later that season completed her first engagement at The Metropolitan Opera, hand-selected as an ensemble member for their GRAMMY Award-winning production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
Burton completed her graduate studies at The Juilliard School, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Towson University. She is a proud recipient of multiple awards including the 2022 Sara Tucker Study Grant from the Richard Tucker Foundation, the 2021 William Matheus Sullivan Foundation Award (in memory of Rose Bampton), the Novick Career Advancement Grant, as well as the Gaddes Career Award presented by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.