KATIE SONG-YI NAM
Matt Simpkins Photography
Katie Song-Yi Nam is a Korean-American soprano, originally from Boston, Massachusetts, pursuing a Master's in voice under the tutelage of Heidi Grant Murphy at the IU Jacobs School of Music. Equally at home singing opera, musical theatre, and popular music, she advocates crossover music. She was recently honored as a finalist for the Georgina Joshi Graduate Voice Fellowship and the Wilfred Bain Award in Opera. Her operatic roles include Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti), Ilia (Idomeneo), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Venus (Orpheus in the Underworld), and covered for the role of Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte during the Pandemic.
Nam made her debut singing the National Anthem at the Yankee Stadium for New York University for their 190th All-University Commencement Exercises as well as debuting at the Radio City Music Hall singing with the New York University Steinhardt Singers for Baccalaureate Ceremony, Valedictory ceremony, and Doctoral Convocation produced by Warren Freeman.
In a glowing review, her hometown Andover Massachusetts’ The Andover Townsman News hailed the performance as a “beautiful triumph” and wrote, “Nam with a pitch-perfect performance of the National Anthem.” Her mentor, Harolyn Blackwell praised her work ethic and dedication to the field and for her ability to tell a story through her performances.
Nam is pursuing her Master of Music in Voice at The IU Jacobs School of Music where she is studying voice with the marvelous Heidi Grant Murphy and is coached by a pianist and a vocal coach Kevin Murphy. Nam is a proud recipient of the Harriett Block Operatic Scholarship, Jeannette Bredin Fellowship, Graduate Tuition Award, and Artistic Excellence Award at The Jacobs School of Music. Nam recently graduated with University Honors Scholars from New York University where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in the vocal studio of charismatic Soprano, Harolyn Blackwell. She was awarded the highest honors from the Vocal Performance Program’s Exceptional Contribution To Classical Award for Undergraduate Academic and Artistic Excellence. She also earned a minor in Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology from NYU Stern and Tisch School of the Arts. At NYU, She was a member and the President of the Classical Vocal Collective where she recently produced an opera scene production "Last Resort: Scenes in Paradise". Nam also enjoys singing contemporary repertoire and was a singer with GRAMMY-winning Janis Siegel and Lauren Kinhan's Contemporary and Jazz Ensemble Village Voices as well as NYU's women's Acapella group Cleftomaniacs.
For the past summer, Nam has attended as an opera studio artist of MUSIC ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL (MAI) for their 20th Anniversary Trentino Music Festival Per Mezzano Romantica at Mezzano, Italy where she made her principal debut as The Second Lady in Mozart's Opera Die Zauberflöte directed by renowned conductor Arthur Fagen. She was also selected to perform in their French recital and featured as a soloist in their Goodbye Opera Gala at Piazza Brolo in Mezzano.
Nam was the President of the Show Choir as well as the Vocal Captain and soloist for close to 4 years of performance engagements for competitions at various locations in Massachusetts, New York City, Nashville Tennessee, and Cincinnati Ohio. She has also performed roles in Musical Theatre including Marian Paroo (Music Man), and Johanna Barker (Sweeney Todd), as well as a cover for Claudia and a part of the incredible ensemble in Nine at the renowned Frederick Loewe Theatre and worked with Broadway Music Director Joshua Rosenblum (“Into the Woods'') and Associate Director Taylor Haven Holt (''& Juliet”). Nam enjoys collaborating with all types of artists to create exciting new works spotlighting multiple mediums of art.
In 2021, Nam established her vocal studio, to spread the joy of music and teach the art of song to children around her hometown in Andover Massachusetts at a time when times were uncertain during the pandemic. This upcoming year, Ms. Nam will be teaching public school kids vocal arts from the Dominican Republic and Indiana at Jacobs Academy Virtual Academy.
Share and keep up with Katie, follow her on Instagram / TikTok @xokatienamxo / @katienamxo, or check the NEWS page to catch her wherever she may be next.