Katherine Cooke

INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL DEPARTMENT - CLARINET, RECORDER, SAXOPHONE

Katherine Cooke received a high school diploma with honors from Interlochen Arts Academy, a Bachelor of Musical Arts with distinction in Clarinet Performance from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Her primary teachers include Ignatius Gennusa, Richard MacDowell, John Mohler, Kelly Burke and Russell Dagon. Katherine has been a member of the Diller-Quaile School of Music faculty since 1999, where she performs in faculty concerts, coaches adult chamber music and Camerata, and teaches clarinet, saxophone, and recorder.   

Katherine is retired from the Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, where she directed the Upper School Wind Ensemble, the fifth and sixth grade jazz band, and taught instrumental music students in grades 5-8. 

Katherine maintains a busy private studio and is actively involved in the clarinet community. As a part of her work developing a curriculum for early-stage instrumental music education, she is part of the international working group  for the development of the Suzuki Method for Clarinet.  Katherine was an editor for Dr. Kristen Denny Chambers Finger Fitness Etudes Books 1, 2, and 3, as well as Shawn Copeland and Jacqueline McIlwain’s book, Body Mapping for Clarinetists. 

Katherine’s students attend summer programs at Interlochen Arts Camp, New England Music Camp, and USDAN. Her students have been selected for All-State ensembles in Alabama, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. 

She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, bass clarinetist Michael Lowenstern, and dog Piper.