Voice Program: Soprano Kate Conklin is a classically trained soprano, and a leading interpreter of the highly demanding vocal music of Bulgaria. She works extensively in film and new works as a vocalist and collaborator with composers and choreographers. Kate has premiered pieces by Mark Trayle, Marc Lowenstein and Jeremy Zuckerman. In 2001 Kate was awarded The Fulbright Scholarship to Bulgaria, and in 2003 the LifeWorks Foundation Research Grant for Early American Folk Music in Nashville. In Bulgaria Kate rehearsed and performed as a member of the Ivan Spassov Bulgarian Women’s Choir, and developed her work in regional solo repertoire, choral literature, conducting and pedagogy. She has founded and directed Bulgarian Vocal Ensembles for California Institute of the Arts, Community Arts Partnership, California State Summer School for the Arts, and The Oakwood School. She has collaborated extensively with choreographer Sahar Javedani, artistic director of Compani Javedani in New York City, providing music for performances at the Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors Festival, the CEAIT Electronic Music Festival, and “Gardens’ at Danspace Project at St. Marks Church-in-the Bowery. Most recently Kate worked collaboratively in residence at Bard College with Javedani at Voice and Vision Theater’s Envision Retreat for development of new works. Upcoming engagements in 2008-09 include “BELL”, a collaboration with artist and LMU faculty Jane Brucker, involving a site–specific installation intermeshed with a performance piece based in the idiom of modern and avant-garde Bulgarian choral music. In 2006 Kate returned to LA after a two-year tenure with Cirque du Soleil as a vocalist in “O”. She currently resides in Los Angeles CA, where she teaches voice and is training to become a teacher of The Alexander Technique.