Kristen Dubenion-Smith

Recognized for her “velvety legato and embracing warmth of sound” (Washington Classical Review) and “lyric-mezzo of uncommon beauty” (The Washington Post,) mezzo-soprano Kristen Dubenion-Smith enjoys an active performing career in oratorio and sacred vocal chamber music, specializing in music of the medieval, renaissance, and baroque eras.

Recent and upcoming solo engagements include concerts with the Washington Bach Consort, Apollo’s Fire, TENET, Opera Lafayette, The Folger Consort, The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Altera, Musica Spira, Choralis, Variant 6, The Washington National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra, Bach Collegium of San Diego and an international tour of Handel’s Solomon with The Clarion Choir and The English Concert (Solomon understudy.)

Ms. Dubenion Smith has been involved in a number of commercial recordings with The Folger Consort, Apollo's Fire, Cathedra, and Via Veritae and was an ensemble singer on the Grammy winning album, The Prison, by Ethel Smyth, with The Experiential Orchestra. Ms. Dubenion-Smith is also a past American Bach Soloists Academy participant and Virginia Best Adams Fellow at the Carmel Bach Festival.

In 2016, Ms. Dubenion-Smith was the first woman to be hired to join the choir of Men and Boys/Girls at the Washington National Cathedral. The Washington National Cathedral Choir sings at high profile events such as the funerals of Senator John McCain and former President George Bush Sr., the inaugural prayer service for President Biden and vice president Kamala Harris, and the interment of Matthew Shepard.

When Ms. Dubenion-Smith isn’t singing, she’s baking! She’s the owner of Sweetest Notes Bakery and specializes in sugar cookies with royal icing, tarts, and pies!

Originally from Michigan, Ms. Dubenion-Smith attended Alma College (Bachelor of Music) before moving to Maryland to complete her studies at The Peabody Conservatory of Music (Master of Music) in Baltimore.