Accompanist: Kathy Russell
The Avalon Singers warmly welcome Kathy as our new accompanist...
Kathy Russell (Koch) received her Bachelor's and
Master's Degrees in Piano Performance from the University of
Victoria, studying primarily with
Bruce Vogt. She is the recipient of innumerable
scholarships, most notably the ‘Clarke Horning Memorial
Prize’ (awarded to the most promising performance graduate),
the ‘Dean’s Scholarship’, and on two occasions the ‘Johann
Strauss Foundation Scholarship’ for studies at the
Hochschule Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. During her six
years of post-secondary study, Kathy worked in lessons and
masterclasses with artists including
Bernd Glemser,
Luba Edlina-Dubinsky,
Claude Helffer,
Riccardo Risaliti, Robin Wood, Kathleen
Supove,
Aurora Dokken, Christoph Lieske, Diana Lawton, and Stéphane
Lemelin.
Kathy has enjoyed great success at the piano, performing in Canada, the United States, and in Europe. Her classical repertoire spans from Bach to present day with an affinity for Scarlatti, Schubert, Liszt, Bartók, and German Lieder. She enjoys all genres of music, however, and is equally at home performing popular, folk, and even jazz influenced styles. Kathy has been featured many times on local television and radio in performances as soloist and accompanist. To hear a selection of recordings featuring Kathy click here.
The
Painted Piano Music Studio
is located in picturesque Sooke, B.C.
is located in picturesque Sooke, B.C.
Kathy Russell B.Mus M.Mus
Kathy has also discovered a great love for choral music, particularly the sense of community and cooperation that it encourages. In the past decade on Vancouver Island she has accompanied for choral groups including Victoria's District 61 Youth Honour Choir, the Arion Male Voice Choir, the Crystal Singers, the UVIC Lieder Singers, the Camosun Choristers, the Edelweiss Harmonie Chor, the Ekoos ensemble, the Sooke Community Choir and most recently, the Avalon Singers. While accompanying for Youth Choir 61 Kathy has performed with famed Canadian rocker Bill Henderson (of ‘Chilliwack’) in a choral event at Uvic’s Farquar Auditorium, for Premiere Gordon Cambell at the B.C. Legislature, for Lieutenant Governors Steven Point and Iona Campagnolo at Victoria’s Government House, and at the International Choral Kathaumixw in Powell River, B.C.