Kate McNamara is a conductor, soprano and educator from Perth, Western Australia.

 

Kate has a rapidly rising profile as a versatile conductor of both orchestral and choral repertoire. From 2021-2023 she was Artistic Director and General Manager of the Giovanni Consort, Western Australia's premier chamber choir. In 2023 she was also a guest conductor with Fremantle Symphony Orchestra.

 

In 2022 she premiered the opera Our Little Inventor by Emma Jayakumar, featuring the West Australian Youth Orchestra and WA Young Voices, for West Australian Opera, with whom she was the 2022 Young Artist Conductor.

 

In 2020 and 2021 she was an emerging Artist with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. In 2020 she premiered a recording of The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie with Perth Symphony Orchestra for West Australian Ballet, and has participated in Perth Symphony Orchestra’s 2019 and 2020 Women on the Podium programs.

 

As a soprano, Kate has a busy performing schedule as a member of the St George’s Cathedral Choir and Consort.

 

Kate has conducted many choirs around Perth, and has worked as Director of Music for two prominent Anglican parishes, including establishing the South Perth Chamber Choir at St Mary’s, South Perth.

 

Kate also has extensive experience in youth training and education, including as a senior tutor with the Australian Girls Choir.

 

Kate is a Graduate of the University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where she studied classical voice, focusing on early music. Kate’s research interests are in 17th century German vocal repertoire.