Meet Katherine Powers of Highland Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Powers.

Katherine, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my career as a television actor in Toronto, Canada, where I grew up, before moving to Los Angeles to attend theater school and pursue acting professionally. At the same time, my passion for music was planted back in my teenage years. I attended a high school for the arts, and after hearing a choir performance, I fell head over heels for classical and choral music. I switched into the vocal program and was lucky to have an incredible teacher who inspired me, challenged me, and gave me a lifelong love for singing.

After graduating from theater school, I felt pulled back to music and returned to school to study opera. The combination of storytelling and music captivated me, and I realized opera was the perfect home for both my theatrical and musical instincts. After completing my graduate studies, I built a career as a private voice teacher and taught at institutions like AMDA and Occidental College. Eventually, I was ready for a bigger challenge and became the founding Director of Vocal Arts at California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley. It felt like coming full circle, helping young artists discover themselves through music, just as I had. When Pacific Opera Project, a company I had sung with for over a decade, needed an Executive Director, it felt like the natural next step. I’ve now been leading POP for three years, channeling all my love for the arts by helping this amazing company grow, thrive, and bring people joy.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No one is exempt from challenges, but looking back, I can see how each trial became a turning point. A vocal injury at 22 was devastating at the time, but it led me back to study music so I could understand the voice fully. Ultimately, that was what set me on the path to making music my career.

Professionally, I’ve often stepped into roles before I had all the skills. When I joined POP, I didn’t have fundraising or finance experience, so I had to learn on the job. Being a fundraiser takes courage and audacity. Those are traits that I’ve had to cultivate. Now, I trust that I can tolerate the discomfort of learning and leading at the same time. I believe that’s one of the most important skills a leader can have.

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and had to navigate treatment while the daily work of motherhood and leadership went on. I’m healthy now, and I couldn’t have gotten through it without my husband and family’s support. I share this story because whenever I speak about it, someone in my network reaches out who is navigating a new diagnosis. I’ve been able to be there for other women, just as someone was there for me during the scariest part of that journey. Being part of a chain of women supporting each other is something I’m truly grateful for.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think many people have a misconception that opera is stuffy, boring, and serious, but POP has a way of making it one of the most fun nights out you’ve ever had. POP reimagines opera as an affordable adventure, making unforgettable, entertaining performances accessible for all. Being at one of our shows and seeing the collective effervescence we create brings me so much joy. I’m proud of how I’ve helped grow POP in the last three years. Having POP recognized on the LA Times “Best of Classical Music in 2024” list in a group that included organizations like the LA Phil and Salzburg Festival was a real high point for me.

One of the best parts about my job is the people that I’ve met, both arts supporters and art leaders. I’ve been so impressed by the women leaders I’ve encountered in my work that I thought it would be great to have a space where we could all laugh, connect, and enjoy each other as people. What started as an informal brunch with some women in my network has become a biannual brunch for women leaders in the arts in Los Angeles. This city is filled with such a wealth of cultural resources; arts leaders need to connect. The biggest organizational collaborations have all started with two people meeting and one of them says, “I have an idea.”

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I used to listen to recordings of musicals on vinyl records on my parents’ turntable. We had a lot of Andrew Lloyd Webber! I remember listening to Cats, my absolute favorite, Evita with Patti LuPone, Phantom of the Opera with Sara Brightman, and also A Chorus Line. The records were old and often skipped, and I have exactly where they skipped burned into my memory. My parents were both involved in television production when I was a kid, and I started acting in TV when I was 10. I was completely focused on being an actor through my teenage years, but I didn’t realize at the time how much taking piano lessons and singing in a choir were shaping the future version of myself. It’s one of the things I’ve passed on to my students when I was teaching: nothing is wasted.

Pricing:

• Pacific Opera Project tickets start at $15

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pacificoperaproject.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katp0wers
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-powers-music/

Image Credits
Melinda Carman