Mezzo-Soprano Kate Tombaugh has been praised as “utterly convincing dramatically, and musically superlative” (Seen and Heard International). She recently won first place in the Mildred C. Miller International Competition, hosted by Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and featuring an all-mezzo edition. 
     Last summer, she reprised the lead mezzo role of “The Dough” in the orchestral premiere of Rachel J. Peters’ Companionship with the Virginia Arts Festival John Duffy Institute for New Opera. In 2019, Kate debuted the role in its world premiere produced by Fort Worth Opera.
     Upcoming this season, Kate returns with the Fort Wayne Bach Collegium to solo in Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri, and de Falla’s Siete canciones populares españolas with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra. She makes her debut with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival during their opening weekend 50th festival season celebration this summer.         Kate’s recent portrayals have included the lead heroines “Isabella” and “Angelina” with Winter Opera St. Louis in Rossini’s L’italiana in Algeri and La Cenerentola, “Hansel” in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel with Stockton Opera, the title role in Handel’s Ariodante with Cincinnati Chamber Opera, and “Fanny Price” in Indianapolis Opera’s American premiere of Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove. Additionally, she’s been a featured soloist with Chicago’s New Philharmonic, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Apollo Chorus, Orchestra Seattle, and BEST Ensemble of Cincinnati, among others. She regularly works with living composers and is a frequent master class technician, presenter, and recitalist. 
     Her training includes the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, Opera Theatre of St. Louis Gerdine Artist and Utah Opera Resident Artist programs. Additionally, Kate was a Stern Fellow with Songfest, and in the Opera Studio at AIMS in Graz, Austria. She holds a masters degree in voice-opera performance from University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and dual undergraduate degrees in english literature and vocal performance from Illinois Wesleyan University.
     She is the founder and Executive Director of Poco a Poco, a 7-year musical nonprofit based in her hometown of Streator, IL.