Katherine Weber of Holmen captured first place in the intermediate voice division Saturday at the prestigious Schubert Club auditions in the Twin Cities.
Weber, a Viterbo University sophomore music performance major, won a $2,000 prize and will sing at the Schubert Club’s concert of winners May 2. Only two winners were chosen in each division.
“The fluidity, clarity and warmth in her voice is very unusual for someone so young,” said Daniel Johnson-Wilmot, Weber’s voice teacher at Viterbo. “She also knows how to sing a legato line.
“Her division was very competitive with both men and women,” he said.
Judy Stafslien, Weber’s piano accompanist, said the soprano was “absolutely stunning. She has a gorgeous instrument with so many colors.”
Johnson-Wilmot said he has not had a student win first place in the intermediate division at the Schubert Club auditions since 1993 when Samantha Greenwood took first place. He also had a private student winner at this year’s auditions — Erin Donnelly of Minneapolis, who won second place in the advanced division.
Weber, a 2006 Holmen High School graduate, won the sophomore women’s division last fall at the National Association of Teachers in Singing state auditions.
She also had a leading role in Viterbo’s production of the musical, “Plain and Fancy” in February.

