Catrin Johnsson

The IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition is happy to welcome internationally celebrated mezzo soprano Catrin Johnsson as its National Adjudicator for 2017.

Catrin Johnsson was born in Sweden and trained at the Sköndal Institute (Organist Course) and Royal University College of Music in Stockholm (Solo Vocal Course) where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music. She completed her formal training at the Royal Academy of Music in London (Performance and Opera Course) where she graduated with a Dip.RAM and LRAM. She has furthered her vocal studies with Jacqueline Bremar and David Harper. Awards include the prestigious Christina Nilsson Award from the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, Elena Gerhardt Lieder Prize, Flora Nielsen Prize, Michael Head Prize, Katie Thomas Prize, and the Minnie Hauk Prize.

Operatic roles include the title role in The Duchess of Malfi for English National Opera, Medoro in Handel’s Orlando for the Åmot Opera Festival in Norway, Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro, La Ciesca Gianni Schicchi and Dimitri Fedora for Opera Holland Park, Dorabella Così fan tutte, Dido Dido and Aeneas, Carmen, Meg Page Falstaff, Hansel Hansel and Gretel, Adelberto Ottone and Idelberto Lotario (London Handel Festival), Nicklausse Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Prince The Happy Prince, ZerlinaDon Giovanni, Second Lady and Third Lady The Magic Flute. Covered roles include Fyodor Boris Godunov and Dorabella Così fan tutte for English National Opera, Hermia A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Stéphano Roméo et Juliette for Opera North.

Oratorios include: Verdi Requiem, Bach Magnificat, St Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio, Handel Messiah, L’Allegro, il Penserioso ed il Moderato, Mozart Requiem and Mass in C minor.

Catrin is active on the concert platform in Europe, Scandinavia, UK and New Zealand where performances include Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Queen Elizabeth Hall), Kindertotenlieder (Purcell Room), Grieg Haugtussa (St John’s, Smith Square, with Malcolm Martineau). Together with pianist Rachel Fuller she recorded the CD In Recital and has also taken part in a televised master class for the BBC with David Pountney, as well as radio and television broadcasts in Sweden, Norway and New Zealand. 2016 engagements included: the role of Second Lady in The Magic Flute for New Zealand Opera 2016, recitals for Chamber Music New Zealand together with soprano Morag Atchison and pianist Rachel Fuller, and performances of Verdi’s Requiem with Bach Musica, as well as Mendelssohn’s Symphony no. 2, Lobgesang.

Catrin also works as a vocal and language consultant for high level choirs, including Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir. Recent engagements include Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem (Royal Festival Hall, Wimbledon Choral Society, conductor Neil Ferris), BachJohannespassion (Auckland Town Hall, Auckland Chamber Choir, conductor Stephen Layton). CD recordings include Voice of the Soul with Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir and Magnificat with the Auckland Chamber Choir, conductor Karen Grylls.

Catrin is a Performance Teacher in Voice at the University of Auckland, is vocal consultant for Voices NZ Chamber Choir and the Auckland Chamber Choir and is Co-director of the New Zealand Singing School. Catrin is also an accomplished organist who began her professional career at the age of 15 years.