Kathleen Monson & Canto Zenzero

Our concert productions seamlessly combine musical genre favorites into an entertaining and compelling concert. Featuring opera, musical theater and art songs, our artists combine vocal and instrumental music for a truly wonderful experience. Each concert can be modified for a forty-five, sixty, or ninety minute concert, and are adaptable for one, two or three voices. Our concerts have the flexibility to be enjoyed as a formal concert experience, or can be modified for special occasions, events or celebrations. Our most popular concert offerings are listed below, however we are happy to help customize and create a concert experience for your specific event.

Soprano Kathleen Monson continues to delight crowds with her clear tone and confident stage presence. Recent highlights include performances with the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus and a featured soloist at the Hidalgo Street Festival in Munich, Germany. In 2024, she appeared as a soloist with Chamber Music on the Fox and recently performed in Broadway in Chicago Summer Concert Series.

Striking out as an innovator and entrepreneur Kathleen has created multiple musical concerts and productions. After the successful launch of the musical trio Canto Zenzero, Kathleen collaborated with fellow pianist Riko Higuma and production manager Jordan Monson to create KJR Studio Productions in 2020. Through this boutique style studio she has developed and produced multiple diverse concerts over the past several years and performed throughout the midwest including venues, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Los Alamos Arts Council, New Mexico and Saint Johns on the Lake in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Due to the worldwide pandemic Kathleen experienced many canceled opportunities including performances with Palm Beach Opera, The Bristol Cathedral and Virginia Baroque Academy. However the pandemic proved to be a time of creativity and Kathleen produced several virtual concerts including, An Evening of Classical music, Night of Italian Opera and more. Additionally she performed the role of Roselinde in Die Fledermaus in KJR Studios virtual production of Die Fledermaus.

In 2019 Kathleen performed the role of Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with NOIO, and toured in New York, North Carolina and Illinois with her well known ensemble “Canto Zenzero, The Singing Gingers”.

In 2018 Kathleen sang the role of Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at the Princeton Festival under the direction of Richard Tang Yuk, as well as being a featured soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the choir at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Glen Elynn. Kathleen was seen as an Emerging Artist in Residence with The Fort Wayne Philharmonic and was invited as a vocal fellow to Opernfest Prague, under the direction of Maestro Richard Hein.

Previous credits include; Rosalinde, Die Fledermaus; Suor Genoveffa, Suor Angelica; Susanna, Le Nozze Di Figaro; Micaëla, Carmen; Just Jeannette, Too Many Sopranos; Alma Hicks, The Music Man; Agatha, Guys and Dolls; Nicemis, Thespis; Emily, A Christmas Carol and Barbarina, Le Nozze Di Figaro. She has performed throughout the United States with the New York Philharmonic, Princeton Festival, Utah Lyric Opera, Opera West, Connecticut Lyric Opera, Golden Rose Opera (NYC), Utopia Opera, (NYC), and Chelsea Opera. International collaborations include appearances with JK Music Productions for performances in Singapore, and Resorts World Genting, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kathleen received her Masters of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, Bachelors of Music from the University of Montana, and a performing arts diploma from Lamont School of Music in Denver, Colorado. Kathleen currently resides with her husband in Chicago Il, and can often be seen with her classical trio of redheaded sopranos, Canto Zenzero. More information can be found at (link hidden)