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Outstanding Young Alumni 2008

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award is presented to up to two alumni of Stetson University who are 35 years of age or younger. The award recognizes contributions to society, to a profession, or to Stetson University. Recipients must demonstrate significant accomplishment or promise in their fields; leadership; or civic, cultural, or charitable involvement.

Katherine L. Rhorer '98

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A 1998 vocal music graduate, Katherine Rhorer (photo by Lisa Kohler) taught music for a year before moving on to graduate school at the New England Conservatory, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Music. In 2001, she won first place in the New England Regional Metropolitan Opera Competition and was also a National Council Finalist, competing on the New York Metropolitan Opera stage.

A mezzo-soprano, she is a former Adler Fellow and made her San Francisco Opera debut in 2002. She has since built a successful professional singing career around the globe. Her current season has included a return to New York City to sing Stella in Elliott Carter’s opera What Next? at the Miller Theatre. She also has sung Clara in Sergei Prokofiev’s Betrothal in a Monastery in Valencia, Spain; and plans a recital and residency for the Marilyn Horne Foundation in Louisville, Ky. This summer she returns to the Glyndebourne Festival in England, where she will sing Mercedes in Georges Bizet’s Carmen, before going on tour with the company in the title role.

In her 2005 debut with the Glyndebourne Opera, she sang Nadine, the leading character in the world premiere of John Lunn’s opera, Tangier Tattoo, which is designed to attract younger audiences. She has also sung major roles with the New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Glimmerglass Opera, Gotham Chamber Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Theater of St. Louis and Central City Opera; and has toured with the Western Opera Theater.

In addition to her Metropolitan Opera honors, she won the John Moriarty Apprentice Encouragement Award at Central City, first place in the Rose Palmer Mobile Opera Competition and third place in the Eleanor McCollum Competition at the Houston Grand Opera.