Betsy Bates, soprano

Korean-American soprano Betsy Bates began her musical studies in the Howard County public school system in central Maryland. After receiving her high school diploma, she enrolled at St. Mary’s College of Maryland where she sang in choral groups and participated in the theatre program while earning her B.A. in music. During the summers, she traveled to Europe with the college’s Chamber Singers presenting concerts in Italy, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. She was awarded the Mattie M. Key Award in Music upon graduation.

Betsy was accepted in to the Graduate Performance Diploma program at Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Marianna Busching. During her time at Peabody, Betsy performed “Miles” in The Turn of the Screw, and “Stella” in a scene from A Streetcar Named Desire; presented two hour-long recitals; and covered the role of “Susanna” in Le Nozze di Figaro. During the summer of 2007, Betsy attended the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy where she performed the “First Spirit” role in Die Zauberflöte. Betsy concluded her career at Peabody with a performance of the national anthem at The Johns Hopkins University Commencement Ceremony in May.

She and her husband moved to New York in 2008 and founded Discovering Oz Communications LLC, a marketing agency. During their time in New York, Betsy sang at the Church of St. Thomas More, as well as several concerts at Lincoln Center and other venues throughout the city. Five years and a new baby later, they returned to Maryland in September of 2013. They live in Silver Spring with their son and beagle.