Kelley Krepin DeFade

Kelley Krepin DeFade, one of the area’s most versatile performers, has been seen singing, dancing and acting on stages throughout Pittsburgh and the United States for quite sometime.

Ms. DeFade received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance, from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University and continued her vocal studies at the Opera Theatre of Lucca in Lucca, Italy. During her time in Pittsburgh, Kelley has been seen and heard performing with local symphonies and companies including: Washington Symphony, Mckeesport Symphony, Cleveland Symphony, Youngstown Symphony, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, Manchester Craftsman Guild, LABCO Dance, Attack Theatre, H2O Dance and Gia T. Presents. Former operatic roles include: Laurie in The Tenderland, Suzel in L’amico Fritz, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Esmerelda in The Bartered Bride, Katrina in The Legend of Ellis Island, Mother in Hansel and Gretel. Former Soprano solo roles include: Faure’s Requiem, Mozart Mass in C minor, Beethoven’s Mass in C, John Rutter’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.

Through the years, by way of training and performing, Kelley continued her passion in performing and teaching in multiple genres. Kelley has been a member of SAG-AFTRA for over 20 years and can be seen and heard as a featured soloist and background singer for PBS My Music series. She has backed vocalists and been featured with singers such as: Lesley Gore, Darlene Love, B.J. Thomas, Bill Medley, Tony Orlando, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ronnie Spector and The Tokens, to name a few. As a sought after singer and studio musician, currently, Kelley is the featured vocalist with Balcony Big Band and performs with her trio throughout Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas while continuing to record for PBS. She has been teaching private voice for over 25 years, all genres, and teaches Musical Theatre voice in the Drama Department at Carnegie Mellon University for their Pre-College summer program. During the academic year, Ms. DeFade is a part of the Voice Faculty at Duquesne University teaching all genres of voice. She is also the Director of The Duquesne Vocal Jazz Ensemble and teaches a Musical Theatre Repertoire and Techniques class. She is ecstatic that many of her voice students have continued their professional performing careers, teaching careers, as well as attend top universities for voice, musical theatre and other music majors!

Whilst singing professionally, Ms. DeFade enjoyed a 12 year professional Modern Dance career, dancing with Laboratory Company Dance, aka LABCO Dance. Because LABCO Dance was a repertory company, she had the pleasure of working with numerous esteemed choreographers. These included New York based choreographers: Kyle Abraham, Kevin Wynn, Donna Uchizono, Lisa Race, and Neil Greenberg. Other esteemed local choreographers include: Gwen Hunter Ritchie, Jennifer Keller, Mark Taylor, Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope. She was also featured in multiple modern dance companies including: Attack Theatre, H2O Dance and Gia T. Presents.

In her spare time, Ms. DeFade enjoys working alongside Urban Impacts fabulous Urban Missionaries and has been volunteering for over 20 years in the Urban Impact Performing Arts Department. Kelley is thrilled to be able to interpret music of the great artists who live amongst us today and those who have gone before us and cherishes every performance. She lives in Shaler township with her husband, Eric, daughter Kiela, 2 dogs, 3 chickens and 14 fish.

• M.M., Youngstown State University
• B.M., Youngstown State University

• Bel Canto Training
• Estill Method Training
• Teach all genres of voice
• Dance/Movement
• Musical Theatre History and Repertoire