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Katrina Van Humbeck

A jazz / adult contemporary vocalist, composer, piano player, and educator.

About Me

Katrina Van Humbeck is a vocalist, composer, piano player, educator, and clinician. Born in Slovakia (the former Czechoslovakia), and raised in Winnipeg, MB., Canada, where she flourished as a gifted church and school soloist, chorister, and theatrical performer. Katrina went on to study at the University of Winnipeg earning a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Theatre and Music performance, and she pursued further music studies at the University of Manitoba earning a Bachelor of Education. Katrina’s passion for singing, songwriting, and composition manifested in three studio recorded albums of original songs to her credit: ‘Stronger Still’ (2022); her sophomore album, ‘Doing A New Thing’ (2018); and her debut album, ‘Blue & Beyond’ (2017); all of which reflect influences of the jazz greats and her background in various musical genres. Katrina anticipates the release of her fourth album, ‘Only Love,’ in Spring 2025; a collection of classic, cozy jazz standards and original compositions. Katrina’s music has earned her nominations with the GMA Canada (Gospel Music Awards 2022- Jazz Artist of The Year), and with the WCMA (Western Canadian Music Awards 2020- Spiritual Artist of The Year).

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My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it's full of expression, chordal colours, and it moves me when I listen to it. It's an incredible experience to perform jazz music as a solo artist, but it's even more magical to perform with an ensemble. I was first exposed to jazz when I was a young teenager listening to some of the jazz greats at home, like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, and while performing in vocal jazz ensembles in high school. I met some local jazz musicians in Winnipeg, like Jonathan Alexiuk, who was an 'actual professional musician,' a cruise line jazz pianist, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist. He inspired me SO much to develop myself as a jazz artist. The first jazz record I bought was The Manhattan Transfer Anthology 'Down In Birdland.' My advice to new listeners would be to give this music a chance to grow on you. Sometimes it takes more than a 'first listen' before you can really experience and appreciate the beauty of jazz music.