Big Voice: Katherine Pound

Big Voice: Katherine Pound, 19, Erin. Photo by Pete Paterson.

At the event to celebrate the 25 Under 25 Awards in October, local songstress Katie Pound brought the audience to its feet by treating them to a taste of her stunning operatic range.

A graduate of the vocal arts program at Mayfield Secondary School, the Erin native began tutelage with renowned lyric tenor Mark DuBois. After winning local and provincial competitions, Katie placed first runner-up at the Rising Star Talent Competition at the Canadian National Exhibition with her signature solo, O Sole Mio. In 2015 she was invited to spend three weeks touring Italy with famed soprano Aprile Millo. There she had the privilege of presenting an aria to Puccini’s last living descendant. Now Katie attends the Manhattan School of Music, pursuing a degree in classical voice performance.

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Along the way she’s also lent her voice to numerous community events and has received an award for outstanding community service from the Rotary Club of Bolton. “Initially I didn’t have too many thoughts regarding community service, but eventually organizations began to ask me to donate my time and voice,” she says. “It was amazing how much the audience appreciated me. It was remarkable to see how a piece I performed ignited emotion.”

We’re betting she’ll be igniting emotion for many years to come. She agrees she’s just getting started. “At the age of 19, my voice has not matured, so I have several years of hard work ahead of me. My goal is to perform. I want to be able to share what I love, and constantly push myself to learn and improve.”

See the full list of 25 Under 25 recipients >