Santa Clara University

Nancy Wait-Kromm

Head of Vocal Studies

Nancy Wait Kromm, Associate Professor of Music, earned her degrees at University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, and did post-graduate studies at Stanford University.

A frequent performer, conductor, and director, Wait-Kromm was the soprano soloist on the Grammy Award winning SF Symphony recording of Nielsen Third Symphony, London Decca recordings and performs nationally and internationally. 

A strong performer of new and emerging works, Ms. Kromm has sung a number of world premieres, including the Henry Mollicone Beatitude Mass and Flight through the Stars, Pamela Quist's Requiem for the People, and John Thow's Seven Songs for a New Day.  

Ms. Kromm has a strong interest in the translation of vocal works into English adaptations. Among her translations: Mozart's Bastien and Bastienne and The Marriage of Figaro; Offenbach's Lantern Marriage, Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, and a number of smaller works. 

She is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, most recently a Presidential research grant for her translation and adaptation of Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel; a CPA grant to support Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with adapted incidental music; continuing Dean's Grants to support Jazz has a Dream, the Faculty Recital Series, the Art of the Song Festival, and others. 

Her love for poetry and song is reflected in her current CD work in progress, a compilation of art songs on the themes of the natural world, Nature's Way,  a series of Art Song recitals Waters of the Earth; Nature's Garden; All Creatures Great and Small; He said, She said; and Heaven and Hell, Life and Death.  

Ms. Wait-Kromm resides in Santa Clara California with her husband Leroy Kromm, their two children Russell and Genevieve, and their cats Figaro, Rupert, and Lucky.