Katherine graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto and taught music and drama for many years for the Toronto School Board. After resigning from her teacher position, she opened a voice studio and taught voice privately. During that time she also began coaching speakers and developed highly successful voice intensives.
Before her move in 2006 to Vancouver, BC, Katherine also taught seminars at Toronto’s Learning Annex and appeared on CITY-TV's Breakfast Television.
Katherine combines coaching and performing. She performs her well–received one-woman show Seven Stories High: Songs and Stories in the Key of Life at house concerts and other venues. The performance and CD by the same name contains songs and stories about life and love, light and shadow, transformation and mystery, the hero’s journey and coming home.
Personal Message from Katherine
Being viewed by others as unconventional used to freak me out a little.
Now I revel in it. My creative development is my hero’s journey. Daily creative practice boosts clarity, increases passion and insight, and makes life more fun.
I’ve been making music since I began studying piano at the age of five and singing when I was eight. When I graduated from University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, I took a job teaching elementary school. The best times I had were when I used my music and drama training to write and direct kids in musical theatre productions. Still I knew there was much more creativity in store for me.
Eventually I resigned from teaching and opened a voice studio. For ten years I worked with singers and learned a tremendous amount from some amazing creative partnerships. Still I knew there was much more creativity in store for me.
As a singer I continually searched for repertoire that felt like it was coming from my heart. I finally found the ‘form’ when I began writing my own songs. The creation of a new song brings a sense of connection and timelessness. I know there is always much more creativity in store for me.
The following stories from my own life illustrate the ability we all have to create our lives.
My first story starts with a trip to New York to visit a friend. She encouraged me to take a lesson with her voice teacher, Michael Warren. During my first lesson he helped me unlock some hidden power in my voice and suddenly it burst free. My reaction was very emotional - a mixture of joy for the discovery and grief for wasted years.
On my way to my second lesson, I absentmindedly took a wrong turn and ended up on the ‘wrong’ Manhattan subway line. After a momentary panic, I knew I could find my way and I got on the first train that came along. As I sat on the train, my eye was caught by a poster on the opposite wall. A simple message in white script on a black background. “It’s never too late to be what you could have been.” Not the wrong subway after all!
My second story is more recent and started with a song I wrote called Flying Away. The lyrics talk about living by the mountains and the ocean. That was how I knew where I wanted to be. There was only a minor problem: no mountains or ocean anywhere near Toronto!
But the call to move was stronger than any resistance I had. To take an exploratory trip to Vancouver, I was offered free accommodation at a luxury hotel on the waterfront, and help with the cost of an airline ticket.
My move happened just as smoothly and I was able to manage all the challenges I faced in the decision and in 2006 I moved.
In living a creative life I experience:
Constant Clarification of my Vision
Using my Unique Gifts
Making a Difference in the World
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