Southern California native Laura Smith Roethe holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance and a B.A. in Germanic Studies from Chapman University, where she graduated summa cum laude. 

 

Smith Roethe performs frequently throughout the area with groups such as the Los Angeles Master Chorale, St. James-in-the-City Episcopal Church, Horizon Music Group, Lark Musical Society, Golden Bridge, LA Schola, and has appeared as a soloist with numerous chamber groups in the greater Los Angeles area. Smith Roethe has also sung extensively in Europe, most notably with the Palestrina Ensemble of Munich, appearing frequently at Alterpeterkirche, Heilig Blut Kirche, Damenstiftskirche, and can be heard as the alto soloist for the ensemble’s recording of Palestrina’s Canticum Canticorum (Bayrische Rundfunk, 2012). Other recordings include Verdi's Messa da Requiem and Mahler’s Symphony #8 with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale's Festival of Carols, as well as numerous sacred recordings for Gothic Records. She can be heard in numerous film scores, including Secret Life of Pets 2, Transformers, Jumanji, Wreck-It Ralph 2, Smallfoot, and Bumblebee.
 

She has worked with notable conductors in the U.S. and Europe including Zubin Mehta, Sir András Schiff, Xian Zhang, Lionel Bringuier, Grant Gershon, Bramwell Tovey, Michael Tilson Thomas, Charles Dutoit, and Susanna Mälkki. In 2014, she performed at the American Choral Directors Association regional conference with the Inspiravi Chamber Choir and has also appeared in several opera roles, including Clara in Signor Deluso and Despina in Cosi fan tutte. Smith Roethe appeared as the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and in Fern Hill at the Broad Stage and in Tan Dun's Water Passion at the Ravinia festival. She was featured most recently as the alto soloist in Vaughan Williams' Mass in G with the Master Chorale.