Hey everyone, and welcome back to the show! We have an absolute treat for you today—a conversation with someone whose passion for singing, teaching, and musical artistry runs deep.

Today’s guest is Kate Schirmer—musician, vocal pedagogue, conductor, and passionate music educator. Kate holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Queensland, and a Master of Music Studies in vocal pedagogy from the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. She brings an incredible depth of experience to everything she does—from teaching singing at Griffith University and lecturing in the Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre, to conducting the Queensland Show Choir’s young adult ensemble, Voiceworks, as its Artistic Director.

Kate has presented nationally and internationally, is a sought-after adjudicator, and is a proud long-time member of the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS), where she’s served extensively—including as president of the Queensland chapter. In fact, in 2021, she received the ANATS award for Outstanding Service.

But those are just the headlines. Hope you enjoy this episode! 

Songs Mentioned in This Episode: 

• Hope - Jason Robert Brown/ Mark Brymer
• Beautiful City - Stephen Schwartz/Mack Huff
• From the Start - Laufey
• Diamonds and Crystals - Pete Churchill
• Anyone Can Whistle - Stephen Sondheim 

Kate's Favorite Composers: 

• MT: Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Yve Blake, Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall, Eddie Perfect, Tim Minchin 
• Classical: Reynaldo Hahn, Samuel Barber, Richard Strauss
• CCM: Paul Simon, Ben Folds, Tim Freedman, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Regina Spektor

Where to find me: 

Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity
Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb