The mezzo-soprano brings performances to unexpected venues across the Lowcountry
Opera singer Katie Small aims to make the art form accessible to all through her company, Small Opera (SMOP).
Wander through a local brewery or farmers market on the right afternoon, and an aria might arise—no stage, no microphone, no velvet rope. That’s the work of Katie Small, founder of Small Opera (SMOP), whose mission is to bring what she calls “nomadic vocal drama” to the people.
Classically trained in opera, musical theater, and choral music, Small founded the company in Atlanta in 2016 before relocating to Charleston the following year. With intimate casts, SMOP pop-ups have become a familiar presence at the North Charleston Arts Fest, as well as Piccolo Spoleto. We talked with Small about her mission to make opera more approachable, the company’s “Beep” game, and what she hopes audiences take away from each performance.
The Inspiration: I’ve been singing my whole life. I was performing and traveling with other companies, but in Atlanta, which has a huge opera scene, we’d go out into the community and realize nobody even knew opera was there. If you weren’t already plugged into it, you’d miss it entirely. I started SMOP to bring opera to the people. I wanted it on the streets. When my husband’s job asked us to move to Mount Pleasant, we did. I have family here, so I’ve been coming to Charleston for years.
Breaking Down Barriers: In the last five to 10 years, opera has become more accessible. Before that, it had a reputation for being stuffy or elitist; and in some venues, for some people, it still is. But growing up, I had a very different experience. It was intimate and personal. I wanted to give other people that same window into art. If you don’t know about opera, you don’t seek it out. But if it pops up at a park or a brewery and I’m in jeans with a beer, you see I’m a real person. That makes it less intimidating, more approachable and fun.
Acoustics in Action: Opera singers don’t use amplification, so the space shapes everything. In a tiny wine bar, we have to pull back. In a huge open field, we must be careful to not oversing or blow out our voices. We enjoy both ends of the spectrum.
The Beep Game: In Atlanta, Small Opera invented our Beep game, and it quickly became a favorite segment for performers and audience members alike. In it, two singers switch back and forth, tossing the vocal line between them every time they hear an audience member yell out “Beep.” In the middle of a word, long note, high note, you name it, we switch singers. It’s a blast. We don’t make the audience sing, but we love crowd participation!
Balancing Act: For years, I had a job as an attorney recruiter, and they created remote positions so I could travel and perform. Eventually, I wanted to stay home and start a family. I have two young kids now, but I was thrilled to jump back into music during Piccolo Spoleto this year; I felt completely renewed.
Dream Roles: Every time I name one, I am lucky enough to get to perform it. Maria in The Sound of Music was my first, then Charlotte in Werther, and Carmen. I’ve sung in Italy twice, even for the Pope. I’d love to perform with the Charleston Symphony again. But I really do love bringing opera to the streets.
Looking Ahead: I want people to see that opera can be fun, but I also like to see that it moved them. I loved doing Sip & Stroll at Piccolo, and I’d like to make those art walks a regular thing. Art, music, and opera are bustling in Charleston right now, and there’s so much talent here. I’m looking forward to what the next couple of years will bring.
