Kate Bresnahan is a musician, vocalist, arranger, bandleader, and composer. She recently graduated from Temple University, under the direction of Terell Stafford, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree of Music in Jazz Voice Performance. Originally from northern Virginia, Kate began studying classical voice starting in elementary school through her senior year of high school, where she discovered the joy she found in singing jazz.

Kate found her love of jazz first through listening to Amy Winehouse, and Kate imitated her voice to develop her own unique sound. Through her continued studies, she finds lots of fun and importance in transcribing the sounds of the great Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, and Blossom Dearie, along with her modern contemporaries. She attributes their likeness to her own sound, while taking pride in her unique musical and stage presence.

In her time at Temple University, Kate studied with Chelsea Reed, Bruce Barth, Tim Brey, Terrell Stafford, and Najwa Parkins. She has sung as the vocalist in big bands directed by Terell Stafford, Dan Monaghan, and John Shaw, and collaborated in ensembles with Christie Dashiell, Elio Villafranca, and Josh Richman.

Kate plays and performs around Philadelphia, New York City, and beyond, singing at venues like Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Temple Performing Arts Center, NotSoLatin, Nostalgia Fishtown, and Black Squirrel Club. She enjoys attending jam sessions across Philadelphia and NYC and playing with other musicians of the Philly scene.