We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kathy Olsen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kathy below.
Kathy, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My background and training is as a classical pianist. I never had the “right stuff” to be one of a handful of pianists that make successful solo careers. In college I began working with opera singers. The New York Times called opera singing the hardest profession. Every part of your brain and body is engaged while singing opera. I truly began to see what hard work and dedication to your craft produced in a singer. Surrounding myself with excellence made me want to work harder. Hard work brings me so much joy. The adage “Choose what you love and you never have to work a day in your life” certainly applies to me.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Katherine Olsen is the Founder of Encompass Arts, LLC. Encompass Arts represents leading Broadway, Film-TV and Operatic talent. Her clients include: John Cullum- television, screen and TONY award winner, Anthony Laciura of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire ,Marcello Giordani- leading tenor at the Metropolitan Opera, David Miller (Il Divo) as well as cultural icon, the late Jerry Springer. Encompass Arts will launch two new concerts this season “So In Love”- starring Sarah Joy Miller (Gilded Age) and David Miller (Il Divo”, and “Trio”- starring British pop icon Alfie Boe, David Miller and Jesus Garcia.
Katherine is one of the most famous and sought-after opera coach/accompanists in the world today. In 2001 she was offered the position of Principle Coach and Artistic Administrator for Baz Luhrmann’s Tony Award-winning production of Puccini’s “La Bohème On Broadway.” She worked closely with the company in both the pre-production phase and during the performance runs in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Ms. Olsen was part of the casting team responsible for hiring both principle artists and chorus.
Ms. Olsen has played for and adjudicated many prestigious vocal competitions including: The MacAllister Awards, The Puccini Competition, The George London Awards, The Richard Tucker Foundation, The Reyfuss Competition, The United Negro Spiritual Foundation, and Voci Verdiane-Busetto, Italy. As a pianist she has collaborated with such artists as: Ben Heppner, Leona Mitchell, Sherrill Milnes, Cheryl Studer, Gary Lakes, Barbara Daniels, Harolyn Blackwell, Renata Scotto, Marcello Giordani and Riccardo Caruso (great-grandson of Enrico Caruso). Katherine currently serves on the board of The Singer’s Development Foundation and the
Marcello Giordani Foundation.
Over the course of her career, she has been involved with many teaching programs and masterclasses with: Renata Scotto, Sherrill Milnes, Martina Arroyo and Regina Resnik, to name a few. Katherine has held staff positions with: Juilliard School’s American Opera Center, Lyric Opera Chicago, University of Tennessee and Orlando Opera. She has been on staff of numerous summer programs including: Opern Air Gars, Voice Experience, Berkshire Opera Young Artists Program and Prelude to Performance in New York City.
Katherine has performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Bush at the White House. She has performed at the Library Of Congress on three separate occasions.
Ms. Olsen has written articles and been interviewed numerous times on the subject of accompanying by: Keyboard Magazine, Classical Singer Magazine and The Christian Science Monitor. She holds both a Bachelor of Music and a Masters Degree in Piano Performance
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1.Kindness We have a saying in our office, “There is a human being behind every email.” Kindness is the most important trait. 2.Integrity Try to be known as the person who tells the truth. The business is very small. Honesty is important.
3.Humor Laughing and smiling is better for everyone involved. All of us make mistakes. Better to “fall on your sword” and admit it.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
Our ideal client is someone who matches our work level. When the auditions come they cherish the moment. We swell with pride when the actors turn in a beautiful, on time, self tape audition. There are literally hundreds of actors that are submitted for each project. Just receiving an audition is a huge win for the actor.
For all of our live stage performers all we ask is best efforts. Preparation, study and work ethic always shows in the audition room.
Management is a collaboration- a walk together. We do not work for them or vice versa.
We know most of our artists extremely well. They know they can reach out to us anytime. Communication is very important.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.encompassarts.com
- Instagram: Encompass Arts
- Facebook: Encompass Arts
- Linkedin: Encompass Arts
- Twitter: Encompass Arts
- Youtube: Encompass Arts
