Adult-contemporary swing and cabaret singer Kate Michaels emerges internationally as an engaging and brilliant interpreter of songs performed with contemporary flair. Praised as “enchanting, charming & delightful” (Decca Records) her performances receive rave reviews in the variety of well-known venues where Kate performs throughout Europe.  

A musician of eclectic styles and tastes, American Kate Michaels resides currently in Switzerland. Arriving in Europe on the Irma Cooper Scholarship grant Kate attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria for classical singing.  Shortly afterwards, she travelled to Bremen creating the role of Marguerite for the premiere of Himmelrand, a musical from France originally created for Maurice Chevalier.

Joining Lloyd Webber’s cast of Phantom of the Opera in Basel and subsequent UK tour of the Australian production Walking the Dog as the show’s front-man, Kate returned to music and styles representing some of America’s most brilliant jazz and swing songwriters of the 20th century.

In conjunction with Michaels Media and UK big band conductor and arranger Colin Campbell (musical director for Helen Reddy, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Frank Stallone, Vic Damone and The Supremes) they created Just Marilyn, a fresh, contemporary big band tribute recording based on the songs from life of icon Marilyn Monroe.  Hailed as “Really great!  Really, really great!” (Alfred Wagner-director Duophon Records) and having a “great voice, great music, great band!” (Gino Ferlin, Jazz n’ More) Kate went on to record The Best Things in Life with The Red Thread Trio from Mannheim, Germany. 

As a youngster in the California, due to high quality outreach programs, Kate had the good fortune to be exposed to, perform and work with such great musicians as Stephan Mecurio, Phil Matson, Kirby Shaw, Tim Hauser, Maynard Ferguson, Jim Stafford, and The Eagles. 

Raised with her extended family after the tragic death of her pianist father and surrounded by his classical recordings and big band music spanning the 20’s-40’s, Kate’s intimate understanding of music and voice communicates to everyone she meets. “ With crystal clear diction and a voice dripping with sensuality… Kate touches the nostalgia and has captured the vocal style and nuances in a manner that would have pleased the late, great film star”  (Milt Briggs, Folk-singer & World Champion Whistler 1997)

Between engagements such as the Salon de Laurier and Le Petit Journal Montparnasse in Paris, Kate delights audiences performing in musicals including: Evita Evita, Maria The Sound of Music, Annie Annie Get Your Gun, Ann A Little Night Music, Luisa The Fantastiks, Nancy Oliver, Lilly Carnival, Phantom of the Opera, Mary Mary Poppins, Beauty Beauty and the Beast and many others to rave reviews: “Kate Michaels put in the best performance of the evening.  Her strong, clear voice and savvy stage presence combined to lift her above the crowd.” (Dave Richie, The Reporter)

Kate recorded the original tracks for Bonnie & Clyde, Houdini, Fairystories) from award winning composer Paul Graham Brown.  As a clinician and educator, Kate has been on the faculty and given master classes on jazz and modern singing at California University Berkeley Extension, The American Conservatory, The New Conservatory Theater, St. Mary’s College, Justin-Siena High School, Bern Jazz School, Basel Jazz School, Zürich Theater and Dance School.  She is a member of the National Association of Singers, and the Screen Actors Guild. Her most recent article Freeing German Diction is available through Classical Singers Magazine.