Danya Katok

Danya Katok, originally from State College, PA, is a vibrant soprano whose shimmering vocal quality, keen musicianship, and compelling stage presence have led her to burst onto the contemporary classical music scene. She made her New York City Opera debut in April 2011 as Max in Oliver Knussen's Where the Wild Things Are, a role for which she was praised by The New York Times as being “superb” and “appealing.” In 2010, she appeared as a soloist with The Boston Pops under the baton of Keith Lockhart in “An Evening of Cole Porter” alongside Broadway legend Kelli O'Hara. Other highlights of the recent year include Soprano Soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble and including Judy in Lee Hoiby’s This is the rill speaking with Chelsea Opera. Upcoming engagements include Soprano Soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music with New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, a recital of Richard Hundley’s music in honor of his 80th birthday, Babbitt’s A Solo Requiem, and a recital of Emily Dickinson settings at California State University where she will give a master class on contemporary repertoire.
Always eager to perform 20th and 21st century music, Danya has been involved with many new works and premieres, including Soprano Soloist in Knussen's Requiem: Songs for Sue with Tanglewood Music Center, Soprano Soloist in the world premiere of Stuart Paul Duncan's Lament with Cornell's Festival Chamber Orchestra, Arlen Specter in Melissa Dunphy's Gonzales Cantata at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Soprano Soloist in the East coast premiere of James Sproul's Dream Cycle on poems of Emily Dickinson, Dora Bauer in Melissa Shiflett's Dora at the Baltimore Theatre Project, and Soprano Soloist in Michael Strauss' oratorio Sasafrass Dawn with members of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony. Other theatrical credits include Governess in The Turn of the Screw with Peabody Opera Theatre, Adele in Die Fledermaus with New York Lyric Opera Theatre, and the title role in Little Red Riding Hood with Crested Butte Music Festival. Thoroughly comfortable as a cross-over performer, some of Danya’s musical theatre credits include Anne/Mae (u.s.) in the world premiere of O Night Divine at the York Theatre (Off-Broadway), Anna (u.s.) in The King & I, and Anne Egerman in scenes from A Little Night Music, both with Ash Lawn Opera Festival. This summer, she performed as a jazz singer with Mark Morris Dance Group at Jacob Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshires.
Danya has been the recipient of numerous prizes in competitions, including Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan National Council Auditions (Mid-Atlantic Region), Winner of the Grace B. Jackson Prize from the Tanglewood Music Center, Finalist in the 2nd Annual Teaneck Opera Competition, Winner of the Baltimore Music Club Vocal Competition (Senior Division), Finalist in the Vocal Arts Society Art Song Discovery Series Auditions (Washington D.C.), Winner of the Phyllis Bryn-Julson Prize for Commitment to and Performance of 20th/21st Century Music, Finalist in the Civic Morning Musicals Competition for Voice (Syracuse, NY), and Winner of the Ernst Bacon Prize for Best Performance of an American Art Song (Syracuse, NY). Danya was a two-time Fellow at Tanglewood Music Center and will be in residence at Ash Lawn Opera Festival this summer as a Young Artist. She graduated from Penn State University in 2007 with degrees in Music and Sociology and then went on to earn her Master of Music at Peabody Conservatory where she studied with Ah Hong.