Sarah Kate Walston, a Richmond, VA native, received her Bachelor of Music degree at Lee University and her Master of Music degree and Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Conservatory.
She has performed 30+ operatic roles, some of her favorites being Pamina in Die Zauberflote, Despina in Cosi fan Tutte, Liu in Turandot, Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia and Phyllis in Iolanthe where the Baltimore Sun said “The sweet, nimble singing and deft acting of Sarah Kate Walston, as Phyllis, was a major plus throughout the performance.”
Sarah Kate also enjoys performing in recitals and concerts and has been seen performing in Germany and throughout the United States. She has performed with the Richmond Ballet, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Carmel Symphony Orchestra and the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Walston has attended Lorin Maazel’s Castleton Residency for Young Artists program, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, was a Young Artist with Lyric Opera Virginia, was a Young Artist at Rossini in Wildbad Festival, and was engaged as a Virginia Opera Spectrum Resident Artist.
When Sarah Kate is not singing classical music or opera, she is often found dipping her toes in the musical theater/pop world, performing as guest artist for Symphony Pops Concerts, going on tour with her husband J. Roddy Walston and performing popular musical theater roles with companies such as Virginia Repertory Theater and Live Arts Maryland.
Sarah Kate has a deep love for music and for her hometown of Richmond. She feels that it is incredibly important to discover and utilize local talents in local venues. She is a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing as well as the Virginia chapter of NATS., maintains a private voice lesson studio and is on the Voice Faculty of Virginia Commonwealth University and Randolph Macon College.
Soprano Soloist
“The Sopranos Ride Again”
Grace and Holy Trinity Church
January 27, 2024
3:00
Soprano Soloist
“The Sopranos Ride Again”
Avery Point
January 20, 2024
Soprano
“Hearing Voices”
Podcast Recording for This Jungian Life
Location TBD
January 19th, 2024
4:30 pm
Directed by Dr. Jeffrey Riehl
Composed by Richmond Based Artist Wells Hanley
Guest Artist and MC with Pablo Talamante
Christmas with the Richmond Pops
December 19, 2023
7:00pm
CANCELLED DUE TO SICKNESS:
Soprano Soloist
Messiah by G.F. Handel
St Giles
December 10, 2023
3:00pm
50th Anniversary Lessons and Carols University of Richmond December 3, 2023 5:00 and 8:00pm
University of Richmond
Schola Cantorum Concert
October 29, 2023
4:00pm
Soprano Soloist
Second Presbyterian
August 20, 2023
10:00am
Lux by Dan Forrest
Second Presbyterian
April 24, 2023
11:00am
Mezzo Soprano Soloist
Nelson Mass by Joseph Haydn
Virginia Consort
Charlottesville Virginia
March 5, 2023
3:30pm
December 3, 2:30pm
Mozart Requiem
Soprano Soloist
The College of William & Mary
events.wm.edu/event/view/music/131651
December 16, 7:30pm
Advent Lessons and Carols
Cathedral Choir
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
eventbrite.com/e/advent-lessons-carols-tickets-367785154297
January 21, 7:30
Kronos Quartet: At War With Ourselves
Soprano with Tonality
Conducted by Valerie Sainte-Agatha
Modlin Center for the Arts
modlin.richmond.edu/events/index.html
April Saturday April 2, 2022, 2 PM
“Music in the Books”
Arias and Songs
Main Branch – Richmond Public Library, Gellman Room
101 E Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23219
Free & Open to the Public
Sunday April 3, 2022, 3 PM
“Music in the Books
Arias and Songs
Good Luck Cellars
1025 Goodluck Rd, Kilmarnock, VA 22482
capopera-richmond.ticketleap.com
April 13th, 11:00am
Tuckahoe Women’s Club Fashion Show
“Simply Irresistible”
Guest Artist with Ben Miller, piano
COSI FAN TUTTE
Commonwealth Concert Opera
Role of Fiordiligi
Westminster Presbyterian Church
May 26th and 27th
COSI FAN TUTTE
Commonwealth Concert Opera
Role of Fiordiligi
Shockoe Sessions at “In Your Ear Studios”
May 31st.
October 29, 2:30pm
Mozart Fest
Excerpts From “Cosi Fan Tutte”
Church Hill
October 30, 5:00pm
Miller Studio Recital Guest Artist
St. Giles Presbyterian Church
Church Hill
November 26, 8:00
November 27, 3:00
Richmond Symphony Orchestra
“Let it Snow”
Guest Artist
“The sweet nimble singing and deft acting of Sarah Kate Walston was a major plus throughout the performance.”
THE BALTIMORE SUN
"Walston’s lovely lyrical voice enhanced “Rejoice Greatly” from Handel’s “Messiah,” her ornamentations and cleanly handled gymnastic passages effectively and impressively presented"
The Virginia Gazette
"To possess a voice so silvery that it soars among the more memorable classical timbres has made Sarah Kate Walston a musical must-see whenever she performs in Cleveland.”
The Cleveland Daily Banner
Joshua Baumgardner, Aundi Marie Moore and Sarah Kate Walston, have sensational voices that fill the Hylton Center, delivering powerful renditions of classic arias.”
Washington Post
"Soprano Sarah Kate Walston, another LOV Young Artist, sang Caro Nome, from Rigoletto. Gilda’s aria is such a warhorse—and so often sung so badly—that to hear it done with charm and joyful freshness, not to mention a dazzling smile, was an unexpected treat...in the final death scene, Walston was a sweetly thrilling Gilda”
M.D.Ridge - www.artsongupdate.org
"I also enjoyed Sarah Walston's Caro Nome because she seemed to take such delight in singing it. I felt her light, lyrical voice was well-suited to the piece."
John Campbell WHRO (Virginia Beach NPR)
"Sarah Kate Walston, Richmond soprano of notable experience and quality, added to the joy with excellent renderings of "Christmas Song"
The Virginia Gazette
"To this movement [Laudate Dominum] Ms. Walston brought a beautifully developed soprano voice that was pure of tone and sincere in delivery, adding elegance to the Guild’s solid singing."
Artsongupdate.org
"Walston was again featured soloist, this time singing from the balcony, where her crystalline sound floated over the audience"
Artsongupdate.org
"Sarah Kate Walston brought a fine voice and a carefully sculpted interpretation to her character.”
Baltimoretheatre.blogspot.com
"...standout singing by Christie Jackson as Martha Jefferson and Sarah Kate Walston as Abigail Adams."
Richmond Times Dispatch
"The two women cast in this production more than pull their weight, especially Sarah Walston’s Abigail Adams. She sings like a lark and gives Adams something to fight for."
Style Weekly
"Caroline Whisnant, Sarah Kate Walston, and Abigail Stinnett knocked us over with their opening aria from Puccini’s La Boheme, “Quando me’n vo,” and held us rapt in our seats savoring their music the entire program."
Southside Sentinel
"Caroline Whisnant, Sarah Kate Walston, and Abigail Stinnett knocked us over with their opening aria from Puccini’s La Boheme, “Quando me’n vo,” and held us rapt in our seats savoring their music the entire program."
Southside Sentinel
"Walston (Abigail Adams) and Christie Jackson as Martha Jefferson both have lovely numbers of their own. They both are beautiful women with gorgeous voices."
GAYRVA
"Walston gave a winning performance.”
Explorehoward.com
"Sarah Kate Walston (and Phaedra McNorton) delivered extremely beautiful performances that both stood alone and in colabboration with Warschaweski, all of which made the solo attributes of “Yizkor” rewarding and rich”
Virginia Gazette
"[Walston's]... duet of "All Through the Night" with Tom Magette was one of the highlights of the show.
Capital Gazette
"Walston, a Richmond native, has refined her talent through operatic roles, recitals and concerts across the U.S. and abroad."
Daily Press
"The royal family was the stand out for this production. Gary Sullivan, Melissa Kornacki, and Sarah Kate Walston were the best actors and singers on stage. Their part flew by with beautiful singing and great comedic timing."
goldstar.com
“Lyric soprano Sarah Kate Hershman (Walston) had a light, pretty sound as Lucia, the high-flying role of Lucretia’s maidservant.”
Ionarts.blogspot.com
"A pretty voice!"
The Baltimore Examiner
Fiordiligi – Cosi fan tutte
Liu – Turandot
Mimi – La Boheme
Pamina – Die Zauberflöte
Bastienna – Bastien und Bastienna
Gilda – Viva Verdi review
Musetta – La Boheme
Laurie – The Tender Land
Despina – Cosi fan tutte
Kate Pinkerton – Madama Butterfly
Elsie Maynard – The Yeoman of the Guard
Barbarina – Le Nozze di Figaro
Page – Rigoletto
Phyllis – Iolanthe
Zerlina – Don Giovanni
Gianetta – L’elisir d’amore
Cupid – Orpheus in the Underworld
Casilda – The Gondoliers
Papagena – Die Zauberflöte
Lucia – The Rape of Lucretia
Martha – Jehuda
The Waitress – Hotel Eden
Sprite – Cendrillon
Isabel – El Capitan
Suor Genovieffa – Suor Angelica
Carmen Ghia – The Stoned Guest
Bridesmaid – Trial by Jury
W. A. Mozart
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini
W. A. Mozart
W. A. Mozart
Giuseppe Verdi
Giacomo Puccini
Aaron Copland
W. A. Mozart
Giacomo Puccini
Gilbert & Sullivan
W. A. Mozart
Giuseppe Verdi
Gilbert & Sullivan
W. A. Mozart
Gaetano Donizetti
Jacques Offenbach
Gilbert & Sullivan
W. A. Mozart
Benjamin Britten
Joshua Mills
Henri Mollicone
Jules Massenet
John Philip Sousa
Giacomo Puccini
P. D. Q. Bach
Gilbert & Sullivan
Abigail Adams – 1776
Annie – Under the Same Stars
Sophie de Palma – Master Class
Hope Harcourt – Anything Goes
Mary Magdalene- The Master’s Plan
Marie DuBois – No Man’s Land
Mrs. Segstrom – A Little Night Music
Ron Klipp
Terrance McNally
Cole Porter
Ron Klipp
Stephen Sondheim
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Gloria
Ein Deutches Requiem
Magnificat
Elijah
Messiah
Yizkor Requiem
Requiem
Richmond Ballet
Antonio Vivaldi
Johannes Brahms
J. S. Bach
Felix Mendelssohn
G. F. Handel
Thomas Benjamin
Gabriel Faure
Richmond Symphony “It’s a Symphony Sing Along” featured artist
East Coast Tour with J-Roddy Walston
Henrico Theater LIVE- Solo concert, joined by pianist Charles Staples
Experiencing Villa-Lobos Festival Soloist
The Three Divas in Concert- Kilmarnock, Libbie Mill, Chester, Grace and Holy Trinity
Carmel Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops, featured artist
All Souls Day Concert with “Into the Woods” productions
Concert tour with Tara Stafford-Spyres
A Potpourri of Classics, Williamsburg Choral Guild
Holiday Pops featured artist, Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra
“A Journey Through Song” Grace and Holy Trinity Concert Series
Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra “Cabaret and Cocktails” Guest artist with The Piano Men
Richmond Symphony Orchestra “Let It Snow,” featured artist
Holiday Pops Concert featured artist, Williamsburg Symphonia
Summer Pops Concert featured artist, Williamsburg Symphonia
Virginia Chorale
East Coast tour with guitarist Ben Beirs
Guest Recitalist Dohna, Germany
Rossini and Company Concert, Bad Wildbad Germany
Regazzo and Friends Concert, Bad Wildbad Germany
Hear My Prayer Soprano Soloist Williamsburg Choral Society
Christmas Recital West End Assembly of God
Lee University Distinguished Alumni Recital
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Holiday Spectacular
Concert tour with guitarist Ben Beirs
Academic Recitals
AWARDS
Marlena Kochanska Sembrich Competition 1st place
Johnny Mercer Award Winner
Joy in Singing Semi-Finalist
Coeur d’Alene Symphony Competition Finalist
American Traditions Competition Semi-Finalist
American Traditions Competition Quarter-Finalist
Phyllis Bryn Julson Award for excellence in 20th /21st century music
Jacques T. Schlenger Scholarship
George Castelle Memorial Award
TEACHERS
Elizabeth Daniels
Phylis Bryn Julson
Tony Deaton
Cynthia Donnell
COACHES
Melanie Day
JoAnn Kulesza
John Shirley-Quirk
Joe Walsh
Bonnie Koestner
Eileen Cornett
Raul Gimenez
Bryan Wade
CONDUCTORS
Janna Hymes
Erin Freeman
Chia-Hsuan Lin
Ernest Green
Joe Walsh
Jay Beville
Aaron Sherber
Lorin Maazel
Peter Mark
Philip Collister
Jack Everly
DIRECTORS
Lillian Groag
James Harp
Marc Astafan
Stephani Vlahos
Garnett Bruce
Roger Brunette
Debra Clinton
Craig Smith
Jessica Harika
Fiordiligi – Cosi fan tutte — W. A. Mozart
Liu – Turandot — Giacomo Puccini
Mimi – La Boheme — Giacomo Puccini
Pamina – Die Zauberflöte — W. A. Mozart
Bastienna – Bastien und Bastienna — W. A. Mozart
Gilda – Viva Verdi review — Giuseppe Verdi
Musetta – La Boheme — Giacomo Puccini
Laurie – The Tender Land — Aaron Copland
Despina – Cosi fan tutte — W. A. Mozart
Kate Pinkerton – Madama Butterfly — Giacomo Puccini
Elsie Maynard – The Yeoman of the Guard — Gilbert & Sullivan
Barbarina – Le Nozze di Figaro — W. A. Mozart
Page – Rigoletto — Giuseppe Verdi
Phyllis – Iolanthe — Gilbert & Sullivan
Zerlina – Don Giovanni — W. A. Mozart
Gianetta – L’elisir d’amore — Gaetano Donizetti
Cupid – Orpheus in the Underworld — Jacques Offenbach
Casilda – The Gondoliers — Gilbert & Sullivan
Papagena – Die Zauberflöte — W. A. Mozart
Lucia – The Rape of Lucretia — Benjamin Britten
Martha – Jehuda — Joshua Mills
The Waitress – Hotel Eden — Henri Mollicone
Sprite – Cendrillon — Jules Massenet
Isabel – El Capitan — John Philip Sousa
Suor Genovieffa – Suor Angelica — Giacomo Puccini
Carmen Ghia – The Stoned Guest — P. D. Q. Bach
Bridesmaid – Trial by Jury — Gilbert & Sullivan
Abigail Adams – 1776
Annie – Under the Same Stars — Ron Klipp
Sophie de Palma – Master Class — Terrance McNally
Hope Harcourt – Anything Goes — Cole Porter
Mary Magdalene- The Master’s Plan
Marie DuBois – No Man’s Land — Ron Klipp
Mrs. Segstrom – A Little Night Music — Stephen Sondheim
A Midsummer Night’s Dream — Richmond Ballet
Gloria — Antonio Vivaldi
Ein Deutches Requiem — Johannes Brahms
Magnificat — J. S. Bach
Elijah — Felix Mendelssohn
Messiah — G. F. Handel
Yizkor Requiem — Thomas Benjamin
Requiem — Gabriel Faure
Richmond Symphony “It’s a Symphony Sing Along” featured artist
East Coast Tour with J-Roddy Walston
Henrico Theater LIVE- Solo concert, joined by pianist Charles Staples
Experiencing Villa-Lobos Festival Soloist
The Three Divas in Concert- Kilmarnock, Libbie Mill, Chester, Grace and Holy Trinity
Carmel Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops, featured artist
All Souls Day Concert with “Into the Woods” productions
Concert tour with Tara Stafford-Spyres
A Potpourri of Classics, Williamsburg Choral Guild
Holiday Pops featured artist, Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra
“A Journey Through Song” Grace and Holy Trinity Concert Series
Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra “Cabaret and Cocktails” Guest artist with The Piano Men
Richmond Symphony Orchestra “Let It Snow,” featured artist
Holiday Pops Concert featured artist, Williamsburg Symphonia
Summer Pops Concert featured artist, Williamsburg Symphonia
Virginia Chorale
East Coast tour with guitarist Ben Beirs
Guest Recitalist Dohna, Germany
Rossini and Company Concert, Bad Wildbad Germany
Regazzo and Friends Concert, Bad Wildbad Germany
Hear My Prayer Soprano Soloist Williamsburg Choral Society
Christmas Recital West End Assembly of God
Lee University Distinguished Alumni Recital
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Holiday Spectacular
Concert tour with guitarist Ben Beirs
Academic Recitals
AWARDS
Marlena Kochanska Sembrich Competition 1st place
Johnny Mercer Award Winner
Joy in Singing Semi-Finalist
Coeur d’Alene Symphony Competition Finalist
American Traditions Competition Semi-Finalist
American Traditions Competition Quarter-Finalist
Phyllis Bryn Julson Award for excellence in 20th /21st century music
Jacques T. Schlenger Scholarship
George Castelle Memorial Award
TEACHERS
Elizabeth Daniels
Phylis Bryn Julson
Tony Deaton
Cynthia Donnell
COACHES
Melanie Day
JoAnn Kulesza
John Shirley-Quirk
Joe Walsh
Bonnie Koestner
Eileen Cornett
Raul Gimenez
Bryan Wade
CONDUCTORS
Janna Hymes
Erin Freeman
Chia-Hsuan Lin
Ernest Green
Joe Walsh
Jay Beville
Aaron Sherber
Lorin Maazel
Peter Mark
Philip Collister
Jack Everly
DIRECTORS
Lillian Groag
James Harp
Marc Astafan
Stephani Vlahos
Garnett Bruce
Roger Brunette
Debra Clinton
Craig Smith
Jessica Harika