Mezzo-soprano Kade McKay (they/them) is originally from the suburbs of our great Motor City – Detroit, Michigan. They received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Oakland University, and graduated with a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Manhattan School of Music.

Kade is a classically trained mezzo-soprano and sings regularly with Detroit Opera – most recent productions include Ainadamar, Madame Butterfly, La Traviata, and Rinaldo (Mago). Past operatic roles include Gianni Schicchi (Zita) and Pénélope (Cléone), both of which received praise in Opera News and The New York Times, respectively. They also sang the world premiere of Margaret Ellen in Bettina Sheppard’s opera Stillwaters, a role written specifically for their voice by the composer. As a concert musician, Kade has performed as the alto soloist in Haydn’s Grosse Orgelsolomesse, Schubert’s Mass in C, Mozart’s Missa Brevis in G, Handel’s Messiah, and Bach’s Magnificat.

Since 2005, Kade has been teaching private voice lessons, adjudicating national competitions, hosting master classes, and working as a singer in both Metro-Detroit and New York City. Their students have gone on to have successful careers as performers, composers/song writers, music producers, and recording artists. As a non-binary educator, Kade prides themself in providing a safe environment for students to explore their truest authentic voices through gender-affirming instruction.

Kade enjoys performing contemporary music, most notably with New York composer and guitarist Andrew McKenna Lee. They were a lead vocalist with Mr. Lee’s contemporary group, The Knells, and recorded and released a self-titled album with New Amsterdam Records. The album received wide critical acclaim in The New York Times, “Top 10 Best Overlooked Albums” in The New Yorker, “Best of 2013” in The New Republic, “Top 10 Albums” in Textura Magazine, and Time Out New York’s “Critic’s Pick”. Also a lover of musical theater, Kade made their New York City musical theatre debut as Mrs. Gardner in Pride and Prejudice, and was met with rave reviews, most notably by Nite Life Exchange who praised, “…her burnished mezzo-soprano gleamed effortlessly”.

Currently Kade is a Lecturer of Applied Voice at Oakland University, and lives in the Metro-Detroit area as a vocalist and educator.