#SoCaltech: Kate Radford

“Singers are a kind of like athletes, although the muscles we're using are very small. I love that choral singing gives me a space where I can basically meditate while doing something active with my body. I'm going to stand up, focus on my breath, focus on the page, and, if I'm having a problem outside of this space, I can't bring it with me because I can't sing as well if I do.

“Many years ago, I went to the performance of a choir that put on a Remembrance Day show, so it was all about death and grieving and loss. I cried for 45 minutes, but I felt amazing afterward, and it was the most transportive art experience I've ever had. I think about that when I'm designing programs or performing music: How am I going to transform this into something that is going to take people to a place the composer intended, or that my conductor intends, or that I intend? My favorite thing about performing is being able to use the power of art to give my audience a space to safely experience emotions that can be very scary—in a place where there is no threat. I love that about this kind of art.”

Biochemistry graduate student and soprano Kate Radford founded OcTech, Caltech's choral octet, in 2021. The group recently released Consona, a harmony-rich survey of 400 years of Western music, and a holiday-themed album, Stellata (Radford sings the high soprano part in Biebl's “Ave Maria” on the album). Listen to selections of the group’s performances.

#SoCaltech is an occasional series celebrating the diverse individuals who give Caltech its spirit of excellence, ambition, and ingenuity. Know someone we should profile? Send nominations to magazine@caltech.edu.