Kathrin Zukowski

After completing her studies in instrumental pedagogy (guitar), the soprano Kathrin Zukowski studied vocal pedagogy as well as opera/concert at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold. She then completed a Master’s degree in Music Theatre/Operatic Singing at the Theaterakademie August Everding in Munich with Prof. Lars Woldt. During this time, she was a scholarship holder of the Richard-Wagner-Verband Bielefeld, a two-time scholarship recipient of the Hasse-Gesellschaft, and the awardee of the special prize „Beste Sängerin“ at the International Opera Competition „Giangiacomo Guelfi“ in Bolzano.

As part of her studies, she already performed Arbace in Johann Adolf Hasse’s „Artaserse“ at the opening of the Markgräfliches Opernhaus in Bayreuth together with the Münchner Hofkapelle under the direction of Michael Hofstetter, at the Munich BIENNALE 2018 in the world premiere of „False Good News – Alles klappt“ by Ondřej Adámek at the Residenztheater Munich, as well as Fiordiligi in „Così fan tutte“ at the Münchner Kammeroper.

In 2023, she received the Cologne Offenbach Prize, awarded by the Freunde der Kölner Oper e.V.

From 2018, she was a member of the International Opera Studio of the Oper Köln for two seasons, before joining the ensemble of the Oper Köln in 2020-21. There, she performed roles including Niece in Britten’s „Peter Grimes“, Antonia in „Hoffmanns Erzählungen für Kinder“, Marzelline in „Fidelio“, Contessa in Salieri’s „La scuola de’ gelosi“, Périzade in Offenbach’s „Barkouf“, Princess in „Der Teufel mit den drei goldenen Haaren“, and Musetta in „La Bohème“.

In the 2020-21 season, she made her highly successful role debut as Pamina in Mozart’s „Die Zauberflöte“ as well as her role debut as Susanna in Mozart’s „Le nozze di Figaro“ (streamed). She also appeared in „Schnittstellen [II]“, a production of the Oper Köln and a collaborative project of Oper Köln and InterArtes e.V., performed in the world premiere of „Pepita Lunarium“ by Matej Bonin, and gave role debuts as Gretel in „Hänsel und Gretel“ and Konstanze in „Die Entführung aus dem Serail“ as well as Micaëla in „Carmen“.

Since the 2022-23 season, Kathrin Zukowski has performed further major roles in Cologne, including Donna Clara in „Der Zwerg“, Musetta in „La Bohème“, Cleopatra in „Giulio Cesare in Egitto“, Pamina in „Die Zauberflöte“, Adina in „Der Liebestrank“, E (Eurydike) in the world premiere of Ondřej Adámek’s „INES“, and Ilia in „Idomeneo“.

In January 2023, she was a soloist at a New Year’s concert with the Tonkünstler-Orchester Wien under the direction of Alfred Eschwé. In December 2024, she made her role and house debut at the Vienna State Opera as Ighino in Pfitzner’s „Palestrina“ under Christian Thielemann. Further guest engagements took her to the Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich (including the Musikverein Wien and Grafenegg), to the operas in Bielefeld, Braunschweig, Hannover, and Karlsruhe, as well as to the Haydn Festival in Brühl as Griletta in „Lo Speziale“.

In 2024-25, her roles at the Oper Köln included Gabriel in the scenic new production of Haydn’s „Die Schöpfung“, Donna Anna in „Don Giovanni“, and, for the first time, the title role in „Lucia di Lammermoor“.

In the summer of 2025, she made her much-acclaimed debut at the Salzburg Festival in the concert performance of H. W. Henze’s „Das Floß der Medusa“ at the Felsenreitschule (Ingo Metzmacher/RSO Wien). In October 2025, she made her debut at the Staatsoper Berlin as Waldvogel in „Siegfried“ under Christian Thielemann. She returned to the Vienna State Opera in September 2025 as Pamina in „Die Zauberflöte“.

At the Oper Köln in 2025-26, she performs in the revival of „Die Zauberflöte“ as Pamina, Susanna in „Le nozze di Figaro“, and Amenaide in „Tancredi“.

In the concert field, Kathrin Zukowski performed again in early 2026 at the traditional New Year’s concerts with the Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich/Alfred Eschwé, as well as „A Midsummer Night’s Dream“ (Mendelssohn Bartholdy) with the WDR Symphony Orchestra/Marie Jacquot, and works by G. F. Händel with the Bach Consort Vienna/Rubén Dubrovsky at the Musikverein Wien.