Catherine Gatewood, Assistant Principal/Second, E♭ Clarinet
Wendy and Tom Watkins Chair
Catherine Gatewood, originally from the Chicago area, received her Master of Music from the University of Southern California and her Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan. She was most influenced by teachers Yehuda Gilad, Fred Ormand and Dennis Smylie. In addition to summers at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado, she has played in the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, California, as well as with the Missouri Symphony and the Utah Opera & Musical Theatre Festival Orchestra. Catherine’s recordings include the orchestral performance of William Bolcom’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience, conducted by Leonard Slatkin, which was awarded four Grammy Awards in 2005, including Best Classical Album.
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The facts:
I grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I loved the way music made me feel growing up, all genres and both listening and playing. I couldn’t get enough. It is such an adrenaline rush and a challenge, and I absolutely love the incredible community of people who play music for a living.
What is challenging about playing your instrument?
Reeds.
What are your favorite compositions?
I love Russian music: Shostakovich, Prokofiev — those Soviet-era works are just packed with intensity. I also love modern music. It’s always interesting to hear things without any expectation. They can be so wildly different from anything we have previously recognized as classical music. I love pushing the boundary of what’s possible in the orchestra and on the clarinet.
What have you been listening to recently?
I spent the summer playing operas and musicals. Any time I am surrounded by a particular genre of music, it makes me aware of how many pieces I don’t know, and I’m inspired to delve in. So lately, I’ve been into operas (particularly Wagner) and the classic musicals.
Are there other musicians in your immediate family?
My mom is a fantastic pianist who grew up playing at the piano while her two sisters sang musicals for my grandmother’s entertainment. When she got to Connecticut college (go Camels!) she sightread for the piano teacher and ended up being a music major.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love to run and sail. I ran a marathon and a few half marathons before my knee gave out, so I joined my dad in racing sailboats. I’ve done two Newport-Bermuda races, the 2019 Transpac and San Diego to Ensenada, among others.