Willow Pedersen is a DC-based soprano specializing in early music and small ensemble singing. Willow recently performed with Vox Vocal Ensemble (director, George Steel) at the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston and is on the sub list/roster for Washington Bach Consort. Willow has sung professionally in several churches around the DC area, including the National Shrine (Basilica), the National Cathedral, and Old Post Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery.
Willow regularly sings in a one-on-a-part Catholic church ensemble performing early motets and other sacred repertoire, led by Jerry Kavinski, and she is an experienced cantor for the Catholic liturgy. She is on the pro core roster for Cathedral Choral Society under GRAMMY-nominated conductor Steven Fox, where she performed a solo recitative at the National Cathedral in 2023.
Willow recently attended Amherst Early Music Festival’s Ensemble Singing Intensive working closely with countertenor Geoff Williams (New York Polyphony) and soprano Dr. Anna Lenti. This summer, Willow also worked with Molly Quinn at Spire Chamber Ensemble Choral Conducting Institute, Drew Minter at the Baroque Opera Workshop Queens College, and Dana Marsh and Jeffrey Smith at the Indiana University Schola Cantorum.
In 2023, Willow attended Seraphic Fire’s Professional Choral Institute at Aspen Music Festival and School. That year, Willow also took 1st place in her category at the Maryland-DC National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition.
Willow studies with Dr. Kate Vetter Cain, an early music expert, Yale graduate, and long-time member of the Washington Bach Consort. Willow also coaches with early music specialist Margot Rood and coached with Charles Humphries (countertenor) and Brian Thorsett (tenor) while studying at Virginia Tech. While in school, Willow studied with soprano Ariana Wyatt and performed the balcony scene in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette as well several other staged opera scenes as an ensemble member.
