Katherine Repka is a doctoral candidate in clarinet performance, studying in the studio of George Mason University professor, Dr. Kathleen Mulcahy. A native of Buffalo, NY, she received her bachelor’s degree in music education and performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Furthering her education, she received a master’s degree in performance at Pennsylvania State University.

At George Mason, Ms. Repka frequently assists with the clarinet choir and studio and performs as principal clarinet of the Wind Symphony. At the University she has taught Aural Skills II for music majors and Popular Music in American and Fundamentals of Music for non-music majors. At Penn State, Ms. Repka served as the graduate teaching assistant for the clarinet studio and performed with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, and Graduate Woodwind Quintet.

In the past, Ms. Repka has been a featured soloist with the Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra performing Aaron Copland’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra. She was also awarded first place in the performance category at the Penn State Graduate Exhibition playing Bela Kovacs’ Hommage a Manuel DeFalla. has performed at venues including the Kimmel Center, Carnegie Hall, and Hershey Theater.

In summer 2017, Ms. Repka traveled to Tanzania, Africa where she taught general music and clarinet to students through the Daraja Music Initiative (DMI). “Teaching secondary students in Tanzania to play musical instruments empowers them by improving problem-solving skills, facilitating self-sufficiency, and by providing a healthy creative outlet. Students and DMI teachers take part in innovative interdisciplinary performances/tree plantings throughout Tanzania to help connect the clarinet and the tree it is made of, Mpingo, with the community– therefore fostering a sincere desire for a sustainable future.”

Ms. Repka has also had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses presented by Thomas Lessels, YaoGuang Zhao, Hein Weidijk, Dan Gilbert, Chad Burrow, Michael Webster, Andy Brown, and Julie Detweiler. In addition to Dr. Mulcahy, her major teachers include Dr. Anthony Costa, Dr. Julianne Kirk-Doyle, and Ms. Patti DiLutis.

In addition to her performance experiences, Ms. Repka is a New York State Certified K-12 Music Teacher. You can learn more about Ms. Repka at www.katierepka.com.